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COGNITIVE DOMAIN

Bloom sets out categories of behaviour in each of three domains of human endeavour: Cognitive, Affective and Psychomotor. This chart shows how the categories for the Cognitive Domain relate to statements of general and specific expectations for instruction.

Instructional Objectives and Behavioural Terms for the Cognitive Domain

Category

General Learning Outcomes or Expectations
Illustrative Behavioural Terms for Stating Specific Outcomes
Knowledge
  • Know common terms.
  • Know specific facts.
  • Know methods and procedures.
  • Know basic concepts.
  • Know principles.
Define, describe, identify,
label, list, match,
name, outline, reproduce,
select, state.
Comprehension
  • Understand facts and principles.
  • Interpret verbal materials.
  • Interpret charts and graphs.
  • Translate verbal material into formulas.
  • Estimate future consequences implied in data.
  • Justify methods and procedures.
Change, convert, defend,
distinguish, estimate,
explain, extend,
generalize,give examples,
infer, paraphrase, predict,
rewrite, summarize.
Application
  • Apply concepts and principles to new situations.
  • Apply laws and theories to practical situations.
  • Solve mathematical problems.
  • Construct charts and graphs.
  • Demonstrate correct usage of a method or procedure.
  • Formulate a new scheme of classification for objects (or events, or ideas).
Build, change, compute,
demonstrate, discover,
manipulate,modify,
operate, predict,
prepare, produce, relate,
show, solve, use.
Analysis
  • Recognize unstated assumptions.
  • Recognize fallacies in reasoning.
  • Distinguish between fact and inference.
  • Evaluate the relevancy of data.
  • Analyze the organizational structure of a work (art, music, writing).
Break down, diagram,
differentiate, discriminate,
distinguish, estimate,
identify, illustrate, infer,
outline, point out, relate,
select, separate,
subdivide.
Synthesis
  • Write a well-organized theme.
  • Give a well-organized speech.
  • Write a creative short story (or poem, or piece of music).
  • Propose a plan for an experiment.
  • Integrate learning from different areas into a plan for solving a problem.
Categorize, combine,
compose, create, devise,
design, explain, generate,
modify, organize, plan,
rearrange, reconstruct,
relate,
revise, rewrite, summarize,
tell, write.
Evaluation
  • Judge the logical sequence of written material.
  • Judge the adequacy of the data used to support. conclusions.
  • Judge the value of a work (art, music, writing) by use of internal criteria.
  • Judge the value of a work (art, music, writing) by use of external standards of excellence.
Appraise, compare,
conclude, contrast, criticize,
describe,discriminate,
explain, justify, interpret,
relate, summarize, support .

 

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