Qualities of good research tools – UGC NET Question

Statements A, B, C and E together describe key features of an effective research tool. Consistency of results under similar conditions indicates reliability, and measuring the intended construct reflects validity. Clear and appropriate language helps respondents understand items, and pilot testing allows the researcher to refine wording and structure. Statement D is false because excessive length can reduce response quality and is not a necessary condition for good instrumentation.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it includes the four statements that reflect reliability, validity, clarity and refinement through pilot testing. It recognises that these characteristics jointly contribute to a high-quality research tool. It also properly excludes D, which wrongly assumes that longer tools are inherently better.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it omits E, thereby ignoring the important role of pilot testing in improving instruments. Without E, the combination underestimates the iterative nature of tool development. It also fails to emphasise how small-scale trials can reveal ambiguities and practical issues.

Option C:
Option C is wrong because it includes D, which incorrectly claims that length is always desirable, and omits A, which rightly stresses consistency of results. Adding D suggests that more items necessarily improve measurement, which can actually increase respondent fatigue. Leaving out A removes a core property of reliable tools.

Option D:
Option D is also incorrect because it accepts D as part of the combination and drops B, which is crucial for construct validity. By losing the focus on measuring the intended construct and accepting an unnecessary requirement of length, it misrepresents what makes a tool “good”.