Categories in the cognitive domain of Bloom's Taxonomy (Anderson & Krathwohl, 2001)
Cognitive
Skills in the cognitive domain revolve around knowledge, comprehension, and critical
thinking on a particular topic. Traditional education tends to emphasize the skills in this
domain, particularly the lower-order objectives.
There are six levels in the taxonomy, moving through the lowest order processes to the
highest:
Knowledge
Exhibit memory of previously learned materials by recalling facts, terms, basic concepts
and answers
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Knowledge of specifics - terminology, specific facts
Knowledge of ways and means of dealing with specifics - conventions, trends
and sequences, classifications and categories, criteria, methodology
Knowledge of the universals and abstractions in a field - principles and
generalizations, theories and structures
Questions like: What are the health benefits of eating apples?
Comprehension
Demonstrate understanding of facts and ideas by organizing, comparing, translating,
interpreting, giving descriptions, and stating the main ideas
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Translation
Interpretation
Extrapolation
Questions like: Compare the health benefits of eating apples vs. oranges.
Application
Using new knowledge. Solve problems in new situations by applying acquired
knowledge, facts, techniques and rules in a different way
Questions like: Which kinds of apples are best for baking a pie, and why?
Analysis
Examine and break information into parts by identifying motives or causes. Make
inferences and find evidence to support generalizations
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Analysis of elements
Analysis of relationships
Analysis of organizational principles
Questions like: List four ways of serving foods made with apples and explain which
ones have the highest health benefits. Provide references to support your
statements.
Synthesis
Compile information together in a different way by combining elements in a new pattern
or proposing alternative solutions
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Production of a unique communication
Production of a plan, or proposed set of operations
Derivation of a set of abstract relations
Questions like: Convert an "unhealthy" recipe for apple pie to a "healthy" recipe by
replacing your choice of ingredients. Explain the health benefits of using the
ingredients you chose vs. the original ones.
Evaluation
Present and defend opinions by making judgments about information, validity of ideas
or quality of work based on a set of criteria
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Judgments in terms of internal evidence
Judgments in terms of external criteria
Questions like: Do you feel that serving apple pie for an after school snack for
children is healthy?
Bloom’s Taxonomy Action Verbs Definitions Knowledge Comprehension Application
Analysis
Synthesis Evaluation
Bloom’s Definition Remember previously learned information. Demonstrate an understanding of the facts. Apply knowledge to actual situations. Break down objects or ideas into simpler parts and find evidence to support generalizations. Compile component ideas into a new whole or propose alternative solutions. Make and defend judgments based on internal evidence or external criteria. Verbs •
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Arrange Define Describe Duplicate Identify Label List Match Memorize Name Order Outline Recognize Relate Recall Repeat Reproduce Select State Classify Convert Defend Describe Discuss Distinguish Estimate Explain Express Extend Generalized Give example(s)
Identify Indicate Infer Locate Paraphrase Predict Recognize Rewrite Review Select Summarize Translate Apply Change Choose Compute Demonstrate Discover Dramatize Employ Illustrate Interpret Manipulate Modify Operate Practice Predict Prepare Produce Relate Schedule Show Sketch Solve Use Write Analyze Appraise Breakdown Calculate Categorize Compare Contrast Criticize Diagram Differentiate Discriminate Distinguish Examine Experiment Identify Illustrate Infer Model Outline Point out Question Relate Select Separate Subdivide Test Arrange Assemble Categorize Collect Combine Comply Compose Construct Create Design Develop Devise Explain Formulate Generate Plan Prepare Rearrange Reconstruct Relate Reorganize Revise Rewrite Set up Summarize Synthesize Tell Write Appraise Argue Assess Attach Choose Compare Conclude Contrast Defend Describe Discriminate Estimate Evaluate Explain Judge Justify Interpret Relate Predict Rate Select Summarize Support Value