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Types of Objectives

In the 1950s, Benjamin Bloom and a team of educational psychologists identified three domains of educational activities or learning. The three domains are:

• cognitive (knowledge)
• affective (attitudes)
• psychomotor (skills)

Within the cognitive domain, Bloom's Taxonomy defines six levels, from the simplest behavior to the the most complex. When describing behaviors, take a look at the list of measurable words in the charts below:

• Level 1: Information or knowledge
• Level 2: Comprehension
• Level 3: Application
• Level 4: Analysis
• Level 5: Synthesis
• Level 6: Evaluation
• Words to avoid

Level 1: Information or knowledge Show that you know:
Cite Count Define Describe Draw	Identify Indicate Label List Locate	Name Point Quote Read Recite	Recognize Record Relate Repeat Select	State Tabulate Tell Trace Write

Level 2: Comprehension Show that you understand:
Associate Classify Compare Compute Contrast	Convert Describe Differentiate Discuss Distinguish	Estimate Expand Explain Express Extrapolate	Illustrate Interpolate Interpret Locate Predict	Report Restate Review Summarize Translate

Level 3: Application Show that you can use what you have learned:
Apply Calculate Choose Procedures Collect Information Complete Construct	Demonstrate Dramatize Employ Examine Find Solutions Illustrate	Interpolate Interpret Locate Operate Order Perform	Practice Predict Relate Report Restate Review	Schedule Sketch Solve Translate Use Utilize

Level 4: Analysis Show that you perceive and can pick out the most important points the material / presentation:
Analyze Appraise Conclude Contract	Criticize Debate Detect Determine	Diagram Differentiate Distinguish Experiment	Generalize Infer Inspect Inventory	Organize Question Separate Summarize

Level 5: Synthesis Show that you can combine concepts to create an original thought or idea:
Arrange Assemble Collect Compile Compose	Construct Create Design Detect Develop	Formulate Generalize Integrate Invent	Manage Organize Plan Prepare	Prescribe Produce Propose Specify

Level 6: Evaluation Show that you can judge and evaluate ideas, information, procedures and solutions:
Appraise Assess Choose Compare Conclude	Contrast Criteria Critique Decide Determine	Develop Estimate Evaluate Grade Judge	Measure Rank Rate Recommend	Revise Score Select Test

Words to avoid Avoid using these words and phrases when writing objectives:
Appreciate Be comfortable with Believe Enjoy	Grasp the significance of Have faith in Internalize Know	Learn Recognize Understand