UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

In research, the population refers to the complete set of individuals or elements that share specified characteristics and about which the researcher wants to draw conclusions. The sample is selected from this population to provide data that, under proper sampling, can be generalised back to it. Defining the population clearly is a critical step in planning a study. Thus, the group described in the stem is called the population.

Option A:
A sample consists of a subset of the population chosen for actual observation or measurement. While findings are based on the sample, they are intended to represent the population, which is broader than the sample itself. Therefore, sample is not the correct completion.

Option B:
The population is sometimes referred to as the universe in statistical writing, but the term population is more commonly used in research methodology. It emphasises the target group for which inferences are intended. This matches the stem’s focus on generalisation, so this option is correct.

Option C:
A parameter is a numerical characteristic of a population, such as the true mean, which is estimated from sample statistics. It is not the group itself.

Option D:
A frame, or sampling frame, is the list of population members from which the sample is drawn. Although related to sampling, it is distinct from the entire group described as the population.

The population is the complete set of individuals, objects or events that meet specified criteria and about which the researcher wants to make inferences. Samples are drawn from this larger group to make the study feasible. Correctly defining the population is essential for valid generalisation of findings. Thus, the group described in the stem is known as the population.

Option A:
A sample is only a subset of the population selected for actual observation or measurement. While conclusions are often generalised from the sample to the population, the sample itself is not the entire group of interest. Hence, sample is not the best completion.

Option B:
A parameter is a numerical characteristic of a population, such as a population mean, and summarises information about it. It is not the group itself but a descriptor of it, so parameter does not fit the stem.

Option C:
Option C, population, emphasises that the researcher’s ultimate conclusions and generalisations are targeted at this larger universe, not just at the participants who were studied directly. This aligns precisely with the description given.

Option D:
A statistic is a numerical value calculated from sample data, such as a sample mean, and is used to estimate the corresponding parameter. It is not the entire group of elements, so statistic is not appropriate here.