UGC NET Paper 1 Notes – Research Aptitude + MCQs
Main Objective: Evaluate candidates’ understanding of research principles, methods, ethics, and academic writing, along with their ability to apply reasoning to research contexts.
Syllabus Breakdown & What to Focus On
| Subtopic | What to Study | Key Pointers |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Research – Meaning, Characteristics and Types | – Define research: systematic, objective investigation – Characteristics: empirical, logical, replicable, verifiable – Types of Research: • Basic vs Applied • Descriptive vs Analytical • Quantitative vs Qualitative • Experimental, Ex-post-facto, Action Research |
Use real-world examples: e.g., classroom observation = descriptive; new teaching strategy = experimental. |
| 2. Steps of Research | – Problem identification – Review of literature – Hypothesis formulation – Research design – Data collection – Data analysis – Interpretation & reporting |
Memorise sequence and purpose of each step. Link each step to a real or hypothetical research topic. |
| 3. Methods of Research | – Survey method – Experimental method – Case study – Historical method – Ethnography – Content analysis |
Understand when to use which method. E.g., survey for opinion polls; case study for in-depth single case analysis. |
| 4. Research Ethics | – Plagiarism – Data fabrication – Informed consent – Respect for privacy and confidentiality |
Know basic UGC guidelines, importance of referencing, and ethical approval processes. |
| 5. Academic Events: Paper, Article, Workshop, Seminar, Conference, Symposium | – Paper: A research write-up – Article: Shorter, often opinion-based – Workshop: Skill-focused, interactive – Seminar: Topic discussion with experts – Conference: Large-scale formal gathering – Symposium: Academic discussion with multiple viewpoints |
Know the difference in purpose and format. E.g., workshop = training; conference = research sharing. |
| 6. Thesis Writing – Characteristics and Format | – Characteristics: Original, well-documented, logical – Format: Title → Abstract → Introduction → Review → Methods → Results → Discussion → Conclusion → References |
Understand how to structure a thesis and how it differs from a dissertation or article. Refer to APA style for formatting. |
Key Cognitive Skills You Need
| Skill | What It Means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Analysis | Breaking down a research question | Analysing a problem into variables and hypothesis |
| Evaluation | Assessing reliability of data sources | Choosing peer-reviewed journals over blogs |
| Deductive Reasoning | Testing hypotheses with general principles | Applying a known theory to a new case |
| Inductive Reasoning | Building a theory from observed data | Deriving patterns from a classroom survey |
| Understanding Argument Structure | Recognising claim, evidence, and conclusion | Identifying parts of a research paper |
Smart Study Tips
- Prepare comparison tables of research types and methods.
- Use real-life research papers or dissertation abstracts to see how concepts are applied.
- Solve MCQs based on scenarios, not just theory.
- Watch 5-minute videos explaining research methods to visualise complex topics.
- Prepare 1-page flowchart of research steps.