B l o o m ' s Ta xo n o my : T h e P s y c h o m o t o r
Domain
The psychomotor domain (Simpson, 1972) includes physical movement,
coordination, and use of the motor-skill areas. Development of these
skills requires practice and is measured in terms of speed, precision,
distance, procedures, or techniques in execution. Thus, psychomotor
skills rage from manual tasks, such as digging a ditch or washing a car,
to more complex tasks, such as operating a complex piece of
machinery or dancing.
The seven major categories are listed from the simplest behavior to the
most complex:
Category Example and Key Words (verbs)
Examples: Detects non-verbal
communication cues. Estimate
where a ball will land after it is
thrown and then moving to the
correct location to catch the ball.
Perception (awareness): The
Adjusts heat of stove to correct
ability to use sensory cues to
temperature by smell and taste of
guide motor activity. This ranges
food. Adjusts the height of the forks
from sensory stimulation, through
on a forklift by comparing where the
cue selection, to translation.
forks are in relation to the pallet.
Key Words: chooses, describes,
detects, differentiates, distinguishes,
identifies, isolates, relates, selects.
Set: Readiness to act. It includes Examples: Knows and acts upon a
mental, physical, and emotional sequence of steps in a
sets. These three sets are manufacturing process. Recognize
dispositions that predetermine a one's abilities and limitations. Shows
person's response to different desire to learn a new process
(motivation). NOTE: This subdivision of
Psychomotor is closely related with the
“Responding to phenomena”
situations (sometimes called subdivision of the Affective domain.
mindsets).
Key Words: begins, displays, explains,
moves, proceeds, reacts, shows,
states, volunteers.
Examples: Performs a mathematical
equation as demonstrated. Follows
Guided Response: The early stages
instructions to build a model. Responds
in learning a complex skill that
hand-signals of instructor while
includes imitation and trial and error.
learning to operate a forklift.
Adequacy of performance is
achieved by practicing.
Key Words: copies, traces, follows,
react, reproduce, responds
Examples: Use a personal
Mechanism (basic proficiency): computer. Repair a leaking faucet.
This is the intermediate stage in Drive a car.
learning a complex skill. Learned
responses have become habitual Key Words: assembles, calibrates,
and the movements can be constructs, dismantles, displays,
performed with some confidence and fastens, fixes, grinds, heats,
proficiency. manipulates, measures, mends, mixes,
organizes, sketches.
Complex Overt Response (Expert): Examples: Maneuvers a car into a
The skillful performance of motor tight parallel parking spot. Operates a
acts that involve complex movement computer quickly and accurately.
patterns. Proficiency is indicated by Displays competence while playing the
a quick, accurate, and highly piano.
coordinated performance, requiring
a minimum of energy. This category Key Words: assembles, builds,
includes performing without calibrates, constructs, dismantles,
hesitation, and automatic displays, fastens, fixes, grinds, heats,
performance. For example, players manipulates, measures, mends, mixes,
are often utter sounds of satisfaction organizes, sketches.
or expletives as soon as they hit a
NOTE: The Key Words are the same as
tennis ball or throw a football,
Mechanism, but will have adverbs or
because they can tell by the feel of
adjectives that indicate that the
the act what the result will produce.
performance is quicker, better, more
accurate, etc.
Examples: Responds effectively to
unexpected experiences. Modifies
instruction to meet the needs of the
learners. Perform a task with a
Adaptation: Skills are well machine that it was not originally
developed and the individual can intended to do (machine is not
modify movement patterns to fit damaged and there is no danger in
special requirements. performing the new task).
Key Words: adapts, alters, changes,
rearranges, reorganizes, revises,
varies.
Examples: Constructs a new theory.
Develops a new and comprehensive
Origination: Creating new
training programming. Creates a new
movement patterns to fit a particular
gymnastic routine.
situation or specific problem.
Learning outcomes emphasize
Key Words: arranges, builds,
creativity based upon highly
combines, composes, constructs,
developed skills.
creates, designs, initiate, makes,
originates.
Other Psychomotor Domain Taxonomies
As mentioned earlier, the committee did not produce a compilation for
the psychomotor domain model, but others have. The one discussed
above is by Simpson (1972). There are two other popular versions by
Dave (1970) and Harrow (1972):
Dave (1975):
Category Example and Key Words (verbs)
Examples: Copying a work of art. Performing
Imitation — Observing and
a skill while observing a demonstrator.
patterning behavior after
someone else. Performance
Key Words: copy, follow, mimic, repeat,
may be of low quality.
replicate, reproduce, trace
Examples: Being able to perform a skill on
Manipulation — Being able to one's own after taking lessons or reading
perform certain actions by about it. Follows instructions to build a
memory or following model.
instructions.
Key Words: act, build, execute, perform
Examples: Working and reworking
something, so it will be “just right.” Perform a
Precision — Refining,
skill or task without assistance. Demonstrate
becoming more exact.
a task to a beginner.
Performing a skill within a high
degree of precision
Key Words: calibrate, demonstrate, master,
perfectionism
Examples: Combining a series of skills to
produce a video that involves music, drama,
Articulation — Coordinating
color, sound, etc. Combining a series of skills
and adapting a series of
or activities to meet a novel requirement.
actions to achieve harmony
and internal consistency.
Key Words: adapt, constructs, combine,
creates, customize, modifies, formulate
Examples: Maneuvers a car into a tight
parallel parking spot. Operates a computer
Naturalization — Mastering a quickly and accurately. Displays competence
high level performance until it while playing the piano. Michael Jordan
become second-nature or playing basketball or Nancy Lopez hitting a
natural, without needing to golf ball.
think much about it.
Key Words: create, design, develop, invent,
manage, naturally
Harrow (1972):
Category Example and Key Words (verbs)
Reflex Movements — Reactions Examples: instinctive response
that are not learned, such as a
involuntary reaction Key Words: react, respond
Examples: perform a simple task
Fundamental Movements —
Basic movements such as walking,
Key Words: grasp an object, throw a
or grasping.
ball, walk
Perceptual Abilities — Response Examples: track a moving object,
to stimuli such as visual, auditory, recognize a pattern
kinesthetic, or tactile
discrimination. Key Words: catch a ball, draw or write
Physical Abilities (fitness) — Examples: gain strength, run a
Stamina that must be developed marathon
for further development such as
strength and agility. Key Words: agility, endurance, strength
Examples: Using an advanced series of
integrated movements, perform a role in
Skilled movements — Advanced a stage play or play in a set of series in
learned movements as one would a sports game.
find in sports or acting.
Key Words: adapt, constructs, creates,
modifies
Examples: Express one's self by using
Nondiscursive communication —
movements and gestures
Use effective body language, such
as gestures and facial
Key Words: arrange, compose,
expressions.
interpretation
