UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

The Likert scale presents a series of statements about an object, and respondents indicate their level of agreement or disagreement using ordered categories such as strongly agree, agree, undecided, disagree and strongly disagree. Numerical values are assigned to these categories, and scores are summed across items to form an overall attitude score. It is simple to construct and widely used in social science research. Hence, the attitude scale described in the stem is correctly called the Likert scale.

Option A:
Likert scaling relies on the assumption that categories reflect ordered levels of favourability, making it easy for respondents to express degrees of agreement. Summed scores provide a reasonably reliable measure of attitudes when items are well constructed. These features match the stem’s description, so this option is correct.

Option B:
Guttman scales are cumulative, meaning that agreement with a stronger item implies agreement with all weaker items, which is a different scaling logic from the summated ratings used in Likert scales.

Option C:
The Bogardus social distance scale assesses willingness to accept members of other groups in relationships of varying closeness, not general agreement–disagreement with statements.

Option D:
The semantic differential scale uses bipolar adjective pairs and positions on a continuum rather than agreement categories, so it does not fit the description given.

Statements A, B and C set out accepted principles of questionnaire construction: alignment with objectives, avoidance of double-barrelled wording and a clear, logical layout. Statement D is false because leading questions bias responses and threaten validity, and E is false since questionnaires often combine closed and open-ended items. Thus, the combination including A, B and C, and excluding D and E, is correct.

Option A:
Option A is incomplete because it does not include C, leaving out the importance of layout and sequencing for respondent comprehension and data quality. A and B alone do not cover all major design concerns.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it omits A, failing to stress that each item should relate directly to the study’s objectives, which is fundamental for content validity.

Option C:
Option C is wrong because it incorporates E, which incorrectly demands that all items be open-ended, and omits B, which correctly warns against double-barrelled questions. This mix of omission and error makes the option invalid.

Option D:
Option D is correct as it gathers the three statements that reflect good practice while rejecting D and E, which promote bias and an unnecessarily restrictive view of question format.