Basic applied and action research – UGC NET Question

Statements A, B, C and E together summarise accepted features of basic, applied and action research. Basic research indeed expands theoretical understanding without immediate application, applied research targets practical problems in specific contexts and action research is practitioner-led and improvement-oriented. Cyclical planning–acting–observing–reflecting is a recognised pattern in action research, so E is also correct. Statement D is false because basic research can be done in laboratories, simulated environments or classrooms, so the correct combination must include A, B, C and E but exclude D.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because, although A, B and C are true, it omits statement E, which accurately describes the cyclical nature of action research. Leaving out E means not all correct statements are represented. Therefore this option does not capture the full set of correct statements.

Option B:
Option B includes A, C and E but leaves out statement B, which correctly defines applied research as addressing specific practical problems. Because B is also true, excluding it makes the combination incomplete and therefore incorrect.

Option C:
Option C correctly groups B, C and E but excludes statement A, which is a valid description of basic research. Since A is also a true statement, omitting it prevents this option from reflecting the complete pattern of correct statements.

Option D:
Option D is correct because it includes all four true statements A, B, C and E and omits D, which wrongly restricts basic research to natural classroom settings. It therefore contains all and only the correct statements specified in the question.

Option E is wrong because it includes D, which is a false statement, and simultaneously omits C, which is true. By mixing a false statement with true ones and leaving out one correct statement, this option cannot be accepted.