General Paper on Teaching and Research Aptitude.

General Paper on Teaching and Research Aptitude.

There are 10 sections and each section gets equal weightage. 6 questions are asked from each section thus there are 60 questions in toto. But you're required to attempt only 50 questions. It is advantageous that you can skip ten questions about which you don't have even a faint idea. Before proceeding further let's get acquainted with the different sections.

The 10 sections are viz. 1. Teaching Aptitude, 2. Research Aptitude, 3. Reading Comprehension, 4. Communication, 5. Reasoning (including Mathematical), 6. Logical Reasoning, 7. Data Interpretation, 8. Information and Communication Technology, 9. People and Environment, and 10. Higher Education System: Governance, Polity and Constitution. I'll analyse each section separately and elucidate the strategies.

The question frequently asked is which book to refer. A book to be considered as a good one should fulfil the following requirements

1. It must contain the previous year question papers (at least 5 years) with answers. The practice of these questions will familiarize you with the kind of problems that you will encounter in your next exam. If some questions are repeated, then you already know the answer.

2. Each section should have detailed theoretical explanations.

3. At the end of each chapter there should be exercises to practice.

The ten sections require different approaches for preparation so I'll elaborate on the strategies and the materials required for each section separately. I'll be updating each section regularly in due succession.

Assertion-Reason Type Questions

Assertion-Reason type questions are very confusing to some of the aspirants while others play with it. Its difficulty and ease both lie in the options furnished. An analysis of the options would simplify the inherent complexities.

There are four alternatives A, B, C, and D. The instructions are given as following.

Read the following two statements Assertion (A) and Reason (R) and indicate your answer using the codes given below :

(A).  Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

(B).  Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

(C). (A) is true, (R) is false. 

(D). (A) is false, (R) is true. 

The last two are the easiest ones. The moment you detect that the Assertion is false then the correct answer is D even if the second statement (Reason) is beyond your ken of knowledge. If the Reason is false then automatically the answer would be C, despite you having no idea about the Assertion.

 Let's take an example.

Assertion (A) : A large body of research indicates that violence and aggression is learned through observation.
Reason (R) : Learning through observation takes place due to exposure to similar situation and experienced reinforcement.

The Assertion is true for instance recall Bandura's Bobo doll experiment. The Reason puts forth two causes first "due to exposure to similar situation" and second "experienced reinforcement". The first cause is correct but second isn't because in observational learning the reinforcement is vicarious. Hence Reason is false and the correct answer would be C [(A) is true, (R) is false].

The real problem arises when both the statements i.e. Assertion and Reason are correct. Then deciding between options A and B becomes difficult. In that case read the Assertion and add Because then read the Reason. If you find that Reason is explaining the cause of Assertion then the answer is A. If the Reason fails to do so then the answer is B. It is easily said than done, isn't it. Let's take some concrete example to demystify it.

Assertion (A) : Median is used as a measure of scale value  in method of  equal appearing intervals. 

Reason  (R) :  In normal distribution mean, median and mode are identical.

In this question the Assertion is correct and Reason is also true. But the Reason (In  normal  distribution mean,  median  and  mode are identical) fails to explain why the "Median is used as a measure of scale value in method of equal appearing intervals". The correct answer, therefore, would be B [ Both (A) and (R) are  true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)].
Here is another question.

Assertion (A) : Research suggests that delay conditioning is generally the most effective method for establishing a conditioned response.

Reason (R) : Conditioned stimulus helps predict forthcoming presentation of the unconditioned stimulus.

In delay conditioning the CS is presented before the onset of US and it is true that the delay conditioning is generally the most effective method for establishing a conditioned response. This effectiveness is contingent upon the prediction which the CS makes about US. In this way the Reason successfully explains the Assertion, so the option A [Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)] is correct.

'Match the List' type questions

The difficulty level of questions of this ilk is contingent upon the manner in which options are furnished. The focus on the options, therefore, would help in pointing out the correct choice.

Let's go through an easy example.

Match List 1 (Brain Part) with List 2 (Function):

List 1 (Brain Part)                   List 2 (Function)

(a)   Medulla                             (1) For emotion and maintaining homeostasis

(b)   Thalamus                          (2) Responsible for respiration and postural reflexes

(c)    Cerebellum                       (3) Relay station for incoming sensory information

(d)   Hypothalamus                   (4) Is concerned with motor coordination

Codes

            a          b          c          d

A          1          3          2          4

B          2          3          4          1

C          3          2          1          4

D          4          1          3          2

If you know the function only of medulla or cerebellum or hypothalamus, you can easily answer (B) this question.

Here is a difficult one.

Match List 1 (Description) with List 2 (Theories):

List 1 (Description)                                                                            List 2 (Theories)

(a)   Each person has a unique construct                                             (1) Erikson

system to interpret experience                                                                                 

(b)   All  humans have two broad categories                                       (2) Kelly

of motives, deficit and growth motives                                                                     

(c)    Psychological functioning is best understood                               (3) Bandura

in terms of continuous reciprocal interplay among

behavioural, cognitive and environmental influences                                              

(d)   Ego development proceeds through                                            (4) Maslow

a series of universal stages                                                                           

Codes: a          b          c          d

A          4          2          3          1

B          2          4          3          1

C          4          1          2          3

D          2          4          1          3

To answer this question, you must match at least two. But suppose you can match only one (Ego development- Erikson), then look which of the alternatives provides that match. You find A and B, so you have effectively reduced the uncertainty by 50%. After that if you have no idea then guess (there is 50% chance of correct choice). If you match (deficit and growth motives- Maslow), you have got the answer i.e B

In the former case, matching only one item of the list served the purpose while in the latter case even that of two may or may not help. So it is the way options are set that make the question difficult or easy.

How to Attempt Multiple Choice Questions

It happens that the one we guess in an exam is mostly the incorrect choice... 
Here I'm going to discuss some techniques that would help you in choosing the correct option when you are confused or don't know the answer.
If you know the exact answer then go for it without hesitation.
While attempting a multiple choice question (MCQ) one has to keep in mind that only one option is correct but it may seem to us that more than one option is correct. So you have to select the most appropriate answer.

• Pay special attention to words like "never", "always", "only", "often", "sometimes", "...except for" etc. because questions with such wordings are often misunderstood.

• One of the best techniques is elimination technique. Instead of finding the correct answer, observe which can't be the probable answer and now eliminate it. Then you are left with less options.
• Elimination helps in narrowing down. It may not always lead to the correct answer but by eliminating improbable choices, you reach close to the potential answer.

Let's take an example, the following question was asked in second paper of December 2005 UGC NET exam.
Which of the the following is the correct sequence of motivational set?
(A) Goal directed behaviour, attainment of goal, drive, satisfaction
(B) Drive, satisfaction, attainment of goal, Goal directed behaviour
(C) Drive, Goal directed behaviour, attainment of goal, satisfaction
(D) Goal directed behaviour, drive, satisfaction, attainment of goal
Suppose you don't know the exact answer but have some familiarity with motivational concepts. You remember that goal directed behaviour can't begin on its own, so you eliminate choice A and D. Now you are left with B and C. You know that drive can't directly lead to satisfaction so eliminate B. The only option which remains now is C and that logically seems correct.

Later I'll discuss some other techniques also.

Books for Multiple Choice Questions

Since UGC has changed the pattern and now asking only objective type questions.
I've observed that many friends of mine have good understanding of the subject who can explain the concept but when it comes to singling out the correct choice, they get confused and feel utterly helpless.
The real issue at the core of the problem is that they lack practice of solving multiple choice questions.
For that I would highly recommend Kaplan GRE Psychology book. This book has highly condensed quality material that would enrich your understanding. Moreover the best part is that it has practice sets at the end of each chapter and the questions are very good and their explanation is excellent.
The student of Hindi Medium can refer to AK Singh's Pratiyogita Manovigyan but be cautious while solving objective questions because many friends have reported that there are many errors in the answer key.
If you find Kaplan GRE Psychology to be tough then start from  CliffsAP Psychology. CliffsAP Psychology is easier than Kaplan GRE Psychology but can serve as a better starting point.

Books

To get selected for JRF you need to score very high and that would require an indepth study, therefore, each topic should be studied in great detail.

• If you have not done a serious study till now then read and reread Atkinson & Hilgard's Introduction to Psychology.
• For basic conceptual clarity do refer to NCERT books of Psychology.

• The most indispensable tool that is required is a dictionary of Psychology. Either Oxford or Penguin Dictionary of Psychology would suffice. Whenever you encounter a new concept, refer to the dictionary it will clarify that.

• The second unit in both papers is 'Learning Processes' for that I would recommend Mazur's Learning and Behavior.

• For personality consult either Schultz or Hall and Lindzey. The latter is better.

• To study the physiological bases of behaviour refer to Pinel's Biopsychology or Carlson's Foundations of Physiological Psychology.

• Matlin's book Cognition and  Sternberg's Cognitive Psychology give a detailed account of Perceptual Processes, Working Memory, Longterm Memory, Problem  Solving and Creativity.

• For Research Methodology, Measurement and Testing A K Singh's book on Research Methodology is a good one but it does not cover all the topics.

• Siegel's Nonparametric Statistics is one of the best for Nonparametric tests.

• In my view Hogg and Vaughan's Social Psychology is better than Baron and Byrne's Social Psychology because it provides rich theoretical material that would help in answering questions

I'll update this list later also.

Analysis of the Syllabus

Holistic Approach

The biggest mistake is committed when a student starts preparing each paper separately. The approach should be holistic i.e. if similar topics/areas of Psychology appear in paper 2 and paper 3 then the topics should be mustered together and prepared collectively. For example, in paper 2 the first unit is ‘Perceptual Processes’ and in paper 3 the first unit is related to the same broad area but the topics are different so prepare your own syllabus which would include the topics from the first unit of paper 2 and paper 3 both. Likewise the second unit in both the papers is related to ‘Learning Processes’.

You can download the syllabus from here.
http://oldwebsite.ugc.ac.in/inside/syllabuspdf/04.pdf

Introduction

Why I have created this blog... 

• In Dec. 24, 2011 UGC NET Examination, not even a single student of Psychology all over India qualified for JRF.

• In June 2012 UGC NET Examination, only 26 students  all over India qualified for JRF.
• Many of my juniors and class mates often ask me how to ace UGC NET exam.

• The previous results and trend bear testimony to the fact that qualifying for JRF is comparatively difficult in Psychology.

Despite that I strongly believe that a well planned strategy and hard work can do wonders. Although most of those applying for UGC NET in Psychology exert a lot of effort yet they hardly get the fruits of their toil in the proportion of their physical and mental labour exerted.
As for as preparation is concerned in Psychology there is dearth of guidance. A large majority is oblivious to the need of a planned strategy.