EDU 403 Measurement and Evaluation - National Open University ...

EDU 403 MEASUREMENT AND EVALUATION
3.0 MAIN CONTENT
3.1 Cognitive domain
The cognitive domain involves those objectives that deal with the
development of intellectual abilities and skills. These have to do with
the mental abilities of the brain. The domain is categorized into six
hierarchical comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis and
evaluation. These levels are of hierarchical and increasing operational
difficulties that achievement of a higher level of skill assumes the
achievement of the previous levels. This implies that a higher level of
skill could be achieved only if a certain amount of ability called for by
the previous level has been achieved. For instance, you cannot apply
what you do not know or comprehend, can you now understand what it
means to be hierarchical.
Now let us look at the components of the cognitive domain.
Simple
Complex
EVALUATION
SYNTHESIS
ANALYSIS
APPLICATION
COMPREHENSION
KNOWLEDGE (MEMORY)
Fig. 5.1. Hierarchical levels of Bloom’s taxonomy
3.2 KNOWLEDGE (or Memory)
If you have studied the figure 5.1 above, you would have noticed that
knowledge or memory is the first, the lowest and the foundation for the
development of higher order cognitive skills. It involves the recognition
or recall of previous learned information. There is no demand for
understanding or internalization of information. For measurement
purposes, memory or knowledge involves bringing to mind the
appropriate material. This cognitive level emphasizes the psychological
process of remembering. Action verbs which can serve as appropriate
signals, cues and clues that can effectively bring out stored information
in the mind include: define, name, list, tell, recall, identify, remember,
who, which, where, when, what, recognize, how much, how many etc.
You can now use these verbs to formulate instructional objectives.
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