UGC NET Psychology: Syllabus, Exam Pattern & Sample Questions

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Are you searching for the syllabus of UGC NET Psychology? Here you will get the latest syllabus for the National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) exam. It will surely help you in the effective preparation of NET Psychology exam (Paper II, Paper III-A & Paper III-B). CBSE NET Psychology exam will be conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The syllabus given below is based on the latest pattern of the University Grants Commission (UGC) - Psychology curriculum. We suggest you to check our free online mock tests for UGC NET examinations.

We have listed some of the frequently asked questions (FAQs), asked by the UGC NET (Psychology) candidates, so that they will get a basic idea of NET (Psychology) exam pattern.

Recommended UGC NET Psychology: Free mock test

UGC NET Psychology Syllabus: Paper II

  1. Paper - II (1)
  2. Paper - II (2)
  3. Paper - II (3)
  4. Paper - II (4)
  5. Paper - II (5)
  6. Paper - II (6)
  7. Paper - II (7)
  8. Paper - II (8)
  9. Paper - II (9)
  10. Paper - II (10)

UGC NET Psychology Syllabus: Paper III (Part-A)

  1. Unit - I
  2. Unit - II
  3. Unit - III
  4. Unit - IV
  5. Unit - V
  6. Unit - VI
  7. Unit - VII
  8. Unit - VIII
  9. Unit - IX
  10. Unit - X

UGC NET Psychology Syllabus: (Paper III - Part B)

  1. Elective Paper - I
  2. Elective Paper - II
  3. Elective Paper - III
  4. Elective Paper - IV
  5. Elective Paper - V

UGC NET Psychology (Paper II): Detailed Syllabus

Given below is the list of unit wise syllabus for UGC NET (Psychology) paper-II.

1. Perceptual Processes

  • Approaches to the Study of Perception : Gestalt and physiological approaches.
  • Perceptual Organization : Gestalt, Figure and Ground, Laws of Organization.
  • Perceptual Constancy : Size, Shape and Brightness, Illusion; Perception of Depth and Movements.
  • Role of motivation and learning in perception.

2. Learning Process

  • Classical conditioning : Procedure, Phenomena and related issues.
  • Instrumental learning : Phenomena, Paradigms and theoretical issues.
  • Reinforcement: Basic variables and schedules.
  • Verbal learning : Methods and materials, organizational processes.

3. Memory and forgetting

  • Memory Processes : Encoding, Storage, Retrieval.
  • Stages of Memory : Sensory memory, Short - term Memory ( STM ) and Long - term Memory ( LTM ).
  • Episodic and Semantic memory.
  • Theories of Forgetting : Interference, decay, retrieval.

4. Thinking and Problem Solving

  • Theories of thought processes : Associationism, Gestalt, Information processing.
  • Concept formation : Rules and strategies.
  • Reasoning : Deductive and inductive.
  • Problem - Solving : Type and strategies.
  • Role of concepts in thinking.

5. Motivation and Emotion

  • Basic Motivational Concepts : Instincts, needs, drives, incentives, motivational cycle.
  • Approaches to the Study of Motivation : Psychoanalytical, ethological, S - R Cognitive, humanistic.
  • Biological Motives : Hunger, thirst, sleep and sex.
  • Social Motives : Achievement, affiliation, approval
  • Exploratory behaviour and curiosity
  • Physiological correlates of emotions.
  • Theories of emotions : James - Lange, Canon - Bard, Schachter and Singer.
  • Conflicts : Sources and types.

6. Human Abilities

  • Intelligence : Biological, Social, Eco - cultural determinants.
  • Theories of intelligence : Spearman, Thurston, Guilford.
  • Individual and group differences : Extent and causes.
  • Measurement of human abilities.

7. Personality

  • Determinants of personality : Biological and socio - cultural.
  • Approaches to the study of personality : Psychoanalytic, neo - freudian, social learning, trait and type, cognitive.
  • Personality Assessment : Psychometric and projective tests.
  • Self - Concept : Origin and development.

8. Research Methodology

  • Research problems, hypothesis, variables and their operationalization
  • Types of psychological research.
  • Methods of Psychological Research : Experimental, Quasi - experimental, case studies, field studies and cross - cultural studies.
  • Methods of data collection : Observation, interview, questionnaire, tests and scales. Non - parametric tests

9. Measurement and Testing

  • UGC NET Test Construction : Item writing, item analysis.
  • UGC NET Test Standardization : Reliability, validity and norms.
  • Types of Tests : Intelligence, aptitude, personality - characteristics and important examples.
  • Attitude scales and interest inventories.
  • Educational measurement and evaluation.

10. Biological Basis of Behaviour

  • Receptors, effectors and adjuster mechanisms.
  • Neural impulse : Origin, conduction and measurement.
  • Sensory system : Vision and Audition.
  • Human nervous system : Structure and functions.

UGC NET Psychology (Paper III-A): Detailed Syllabus

Given below is the list of (Core) unit wise syllabus for paper III (Part A).

Unit - I

  • Signal detection theory, subliminal perception and related factors, information processing approach to perception, culture and perception, perceptual styles. Ecological perspective on perception.

Unit - II

  • Learning theories : Hull, Tolman, Skinner.
  • Cognitive approaches in learning: Latent learning, observational learning.
  • Experimental analysis of behaviour : Behaviour modification, shaping Discrimination learning.
  • Neurophysiology of learning.

Unit - III

  • Models of memory : Atkinson and Shiffrin, Craik and Lockhart, Tulving.
  • Semantic memory : Episodic, trace model and network model.
  • Long - term memory : Retrieval cues, flashbulb memory, constructive processes in memory, eyewitness testimony, autobiographical memory.
  • Biological basis of memory : The search for the engram, PET scan, and biochemical factors in memory.
  • Improving memory : Strategies.

Unit - IV

  • Cognitive Strategies : Algorhythms and heuristics.
  • Convergent and divergent thinking.
  • Decision - making; impediments to problem - solving.
  • Creative thinking and problem - solving.
  • Language and thought.

Unit - V

  • Historical antecedents of motivation from Mechanism to Cognition.
  • Cognitive bases of motivation : Intrinsic motivation, Attribution, Competence.
  • Measurement of motives : Issues and techniques.
  • Cross - cultural perspectives of motivation : Achievement, Aggression.
  • Components of Emotion : Physiological, expressive and cognitive.
  • Neural mechanism of emotion : Central and peripheral.
  • Measurent of Emotions : Physiological, expressive and cognitive measures.
  • Current theories of emotions and facial feedback hypothesis.
  • Stress and coping : Reactions to stress, outcomes of stress.

Unit - VI

  • Theories of intelligence : Cattell, Jensen, Sternberg Goleman.
  • Creativity : Views of Torrance, Getzels, Guilford.
  • Intelligence and creativity : Relationship.
  • Abilities and achievement : Concept and role of emotional intelligence.

Unit - VII

  • Clinical and growth approaches to personality.
  • Existential and humanistic theories of personality : Frankl, Rollo May, Maslow, Rogers.
  • Personality assessment : Projective, psychometric and behavioural measures.
  • Psychology of self : Western and Eastern perspectives, measurement of self.

Unit - VIII

  • Research designs : Correlational, factorial, randomized block, matched group, quasi - experimental, time series design.
  • ANOVA : Randomized and repeated.
  • Correlational analysis : Partial, multiple and regression analysis.
  • Factor analysis : Assumptions, methods, rotation and interpretation.

Unit - IX

  • Psychological scaling : Purpose and methods.
  • Sources of bias in psychological testing.
  • Ethical issues in psychological testing.
  • Application of factor analysis in standardization of tests - with Important illustrations.

Unit - X

  • Methods of Physiological psychology : Lesion and Brain Stimulation.
  • Sleep and waking : Stages of sleep, Disorders of sleep and Physiological mechanisms of sleep and waking.
  • Ingestive Behaviour : Drinking and its neural mechanism; hunger and its neural mechanism.
  • Endocrine System : Chemical and glandular.

UGC NET Psychology (Paper III-B): Detailed Syllabus

Given below is the list of (Elective / Optional) unit wise syllabus for paper III (Part B).

Elective - I

  • Current trends in Social Psychology.
  • Social cognition.
  • Social influence.
  • Prosocial behaviour.
  • Applied social psychology : Health, Environment and Law.

Elective - II

  • Development processes : Nature, Principles and related.
  • concepts - maturity, experience factors in development : Biogenic, Psychogenic and Sociogenic.
  • Stages of Development : Theories of Development : Psychoanalytic, Behaviouristic and cognitive.
  • Various aspects of development : Sensory - motor, cognitive, language, emotional, social and moral.

Elective - III

  • Human development and individual differences.
  • Motivation and learning.
  • Factors in educational achievement.
  • Social psychology of education.
  • Teacher effectiveness.
  • Guidance in schools : Needs, organizational set up and techniques.
  • Counselling : Process and areas.

Elective - IV

  • Development of industrial and organizational psychology.
  • Selection processes in organization.
  • Organizational training.
  • Performance appraisal.
  • Motivation and work.
  • Leadership.
  • Work environment.
  • Organizational behaviour : Theories, socialization, effectiveness.

Elective - V

  • Psychopathology : Concepts, classification and causes : clinical diagnostics.
  • Common clinical disorders.
  • Mental Retardation.
  • Mental Health : Intervention models and psychotherapies.

UGC NET Psychology: Exam Pattern (FAQs)

Is it mandatory to qualify UGC General Paper-1?
Yes, it is necessary for all UGC (Psychology) candidates to pass UGC General Paper-1: Teaching & Research Aptitude (TRA) exam
How many question papers are there in the UGC NET (Psychology) exam?
Two: Paper II and Paper III
How many questions will be their in NET Psychology (Paper II)?
Their will be a total of 50 questions in UGC Psychology Paper II
What type of questions are asked in UGC Psychology exam?
Paper-II contains questions of objective nature: MCQs; Matching type; Assertion-Reasoning; True / False. Paper-III (Part A): Essay type questions. Paper III (Part B): Essay type questions from each of the electives

UGC NET Psychology - Paper II: Sample Questions

(1) Delayed conditioning is known as

  1. CS begins before the US is presented
  2. CR gets established but it changes
  3. CS elicits the CR
  4. CS is more powerful than CR

(2) Match the items of list-I with list-II

List-IList-II
  1. Needs
  2. Instincts
  3. Sentiments
  4. Traits
  1. McDougall
  2. Allport
  3. Murray
  4. Freud

(3) Mohit is a young man who strives for excellence and feels satisfied when he can master in new task. Mohit has a need for

  1. Competence
  2. Power
  3. Approval
  4. Achievement

UGC NET Psychology - Paper III (Part A): Sample Questions

  1. How would you measure job satisfaction?
  2. Explain the concept of time and motion study.

UGC NET Psychology - Paper III (Part B): Sample Questions

  1. Define short term memory and indicate its processes and functions.
  2. Discuss the causes, symptoms and treatment of general anxiety disorder.

Note You can easily download UGC NET (Psychology) syllabus in PDF format form the official website of the University Grants Commission (UGC) by simply clicking on the subject (Psychology) link on the UGC syllabus page.