What is the Taxonomy of Objectives in Cognitive Domain?

Taxonomy of Objectives in Cognitive Domain

Evaluation:

This category of objectives aims to develop in the learner the ability to make proper value judgement about what has been acquired by him in the form of knowledge, understanding, application, analysis and synthesis. As a result the learner is expected to take proper decision about the quantitative and qualitative decision about the matter and methods by making uses of all the cognitive abilities acquired through the earlier categories of cognitive objectives.

Synthesis:

The objectives belonging to this category aim to help the learner to acquire necessary ability to combine the different elements or components of an idea, object, concept or principle as to produce an integrated picture i.e., a figure of wholeness.

Analysis:

Analysis refers to an understanding at higher level. It is a complex cognitive process as the learner is expected to acquire the necessary skill in drawing inferences, discriminating, making choices and selection and separating apart the different components or elements of a concept, object or principle.

Application:

The knowledge is useful only when it is possible to make it employed. The category of application automatically involves both the earlier categories, i.e., Knowledge and comprehension. Under this objective the learner is required to acquire the ability to make use of the abstract or generalized ideas, principles in the particular and concrete situations.

Comprehension:

It is based upon the knowledge. If there is no knowledge, there will be no comprehensions. It means the basic understanding of the facts, ideas, methods, process, principles or theories etc. so that the pupil may be:

a. Extrapolate, i.e., estimate or understand the use of knowledge and extend it to other subjects and fields.

b. Interpret, i.e., cite examples, discriminate, classify, verity or generalize.

c. Translate or summarize the communicated knowledge in his own words.

Knowledge:

It represents the lowest level of the objectives belonging to the cognitive domain and primarily aims for the acquisition of the knowledge, Concerning:

a. Generalized principles, theories and structures.

b. Specific facts, terminology, methods and process.

The knowledge objectives mainly call, for the recall and recognition level of one’s memory and therefore their evaluation is primarily made through a simple recall or multiple choice type questions.