UGCNET Questions

Peer-reviewed literature is typically hosted on scholarly databases and e-journal platforms maintained by publishers, consortia or academic libraries. Digital libraries provide authenticated access to these resources through subscriptions and institutional logins. Using these platforms ensures quality control, citation information and advanced search features. Hence, this option reflects the most appropriate ICT tool for academic research.

Option A:
This option correctly points to formal online databases and e-journals, which are recognised sources of scholarly work. These platforms typically index articles from reputed journals, conference proceedings and academic publishers. They enable systematic literature review, citation tracking and access to full-text documents. Therefore, they are the proper choice for researchers seeking peer-reviewed content.

Option B:
Social media blogs may contain useful insights or informal discussions but are not systematically peer-reviewed. Their quality and reliability vary widely, and referencing them as scholarly sources is risky. Thus, they cannot substitute legitimate e-journal databases.

Option C:
Entertainment websites focus on movies, music, games and similar content. Even if they host some informational material, they are not intended for academic research. Using them as a main source for scholarly work would compromise academic standards.

Option D:
Video-sharing platforms may host educational videos but they rarely provide peer-reviewed scholarly articles with formal citation details. They can supplement learning but do not replace academic databases or e-journal repositories.

Open access journals use the Internet to make research outputs widely available without subscription barriers for readers. Many apply licences that permit sharing and sometimes adaptation as long as attribution rules are followed. This model supports faster dissemination and greater visibility of research, especially in resource-constrained settings. Therefore, the option highlighting free online access with licence conditions captures the essence of open access.

Option A:
This option correctly reflects that open access concerns reader-side availability, not necessarily production cost. It emphasises that ICT infrastructure underpins such journals by hosting and delivering content globally.

Option B:
Option B describes traditional print-only access, which can limit readership and does not utilise ICT for wide distribution.

Option C:
Option C describes a closed, high-cost model that is the opposite of open access. Access barriers here are financial and institutional.

Option D:
Option D focuses on advertisements and lacks scholarly peer-reviewed content, so it does not qualify as a scholarly journal at all.