CAT 2018 Slot 1 — VARC Question 26
The passage given below is followed by four summaries. Choose the option that best captures the author’s position.
Production and legitimation of scientific knowledge can be approached from a number of perspectives. To study knowledge production from the sociology of professions perspective would mean a focus on the institutionalization of a body of knowledge. The professions-approach informed earlier research on managerial occupation, business schools and management knowledge. It however tends to reify institutional power structures in its understanding of the links between knowledge and authority. Knowledge production is restricted in the perspective to the selected members of the professional community, most notably to the university faculties and professional colleges. Power is understood as a negative mechanism, which prevents the non-professional actors from offering their ideas and information as legitimate knowledge.
Answer & solution
- A
The study of knowledge production can be done through many perspectives
- B
Professions-approach focuses on the creation of institutions of higher education and disciplines to promote knowledge production
Professions-approach aims at the institutionalization of knowledge but restricts knowledge production as a function of a select few.
- D
The professions-approach has been one of the most relied upon perspective in the study of management knowledge production.
Easy
This is a para-summary question. Identify the paragraph's central claim, then reject options that are too narrow, too broad, or contradicted by the text. The passage is specifically about the professions-approach to studying scientific-knowledge production: it focuses on institutionalising a body of knowledge, but it restricts knowledge production to a select few (university faculties, professional colleges) and treats power as a barrier to outsiders.
Fix the central idea. The summary must capture both halves: (a) the professions-approach centres on the institutionalisation of knowledge, and (b) it limits legitimate knowledge production to a restricted professional community, shutting out non-professional actors.
Option 1 — too broad, wrong focus. It only states that knowledge production "can be done through many perspectives." That is merely the opening framing; the paragraph is about one perspective (the professions-approach) and its limits. It misses the entire substance. Eliminate.
Option 2 — distorts the approach. It claims the professions-approach focuses on "the creation of institutions of higher education and disciplines to promote knowledge production." The passage speaks of institutionalization of a body of knowledge and how the approach restricts production — not about founding universities to promote it. Misreads the point. Eliminate.
Option 3 — complete and accurate. "Aims at the institutionalization of knowledge but restricts knowledge production as a function of a select few" captures both the focus and the limitation that the passage stresses (production confined to faculties and professional colleges). Best summary.
Option 4 — beyond the scope. Calling it "one of the most relied upon perspectives" is an evaluative claim the passage never makes. The text notes the approach "informed earlier research" and then critiques it; it does not rank its popularity. Eliminate.
The correct answer is Option 3: Professions-approach aims at the institutionalization of knowledge but restricts knowledge production as a function of a select few.