John Lloyd Viray Dizon

Unit Earner / Assessment of Learning 1

Chapter III / THREE TYPES OF LEARNING AND LEARNING OUTCOMES
Psychomotor Domain

The psychomotor domain is one of three learning domains publicized in Bloom’s Taxonomy.
Bloom’s Taxonomy
In the 1950’s, Benjamin Bloom headed a group of educational psychologists whose goal was to
Develop a system of categories of learning behavior to assist in the design and assessment of
Educational learning. The group identified three domains of learning.
 Cognitive (thinking)
 Affective (feeling)
 Psychomotor (doing)
The group focused on the cognitive domain which involves knowledge and the development of
Intellectual skills. The psychomotor domain was not focused on until years later.
Psychomotor Domain
The psychomotor domain refers to the use of motor skills, coordination, and physical
movement.
Measurements of learning may be gauged in terms of the following:
 speed
 strength
 endurance
 coordination
 precision
 flexibility
 agility
 dexterity
 manipulation
 grace
 technique
Three Versions of the Psychomotor Domain
The Psychomotor domain has been revised over the years by Dave (1970), Harrow (1972), and
Simpson (1972). Dave’s is probably the most commonly referenced and used psychomotor
domain interpretation. However, each has its uses and advantages.
Three different Taxonomy for Psychomotor Domain
Dave (1975)
1. Imitation
2. Manipulation
3. Precision
4. Articulation
5. Naturalization
Harrow (1972)
1. Reflex movements
2. Fundamental Movements
3. Perceptual abilities
4. Physical Abilities
5. Skilled movements
6. Non-discursive communication
Simpson (1972)
1. Perception
2. Set
3. Guided Response
4. Mechanism
5. Complex Overt Response
6. Adaptation
7. Origination
Increasing complexity
The categories for each of the domains can be thought of as degrees of difficulties. The domains
are arranged so categories proceed from the simplest to more complex levels. For example, you
may start with a simple task such are copying another person’s moves then work towards more
complex levels of proficient movement with accuracy and consistency.
Dave Psychomotor Domain
Dave’s Psychomotor Domain is the simplest domain and easiest to apply. Dave’s five levels of
motor skills represent different degrees of competence in performing a skill. It captures the
levels of competence in the stages of learning from initial exposure to final mastery. Imitation is
the simplest level while naturalization is the most complex level.

Level Definition
Imitate The ability to observe and pattern your behavior
after someone else. At this level, you simply copy
someone else or replicate someone’s actions
following observations.
Manipulate The ability to perform certain actions by memory
or following instructions. At this level, you can
perform a task from written or verbal
instructions.
Precision The ability to perform certain actions with some
level of expertise and without help or
intervention from others. At this level, you are
able to perform a skill with a high degree of
precision and accuracy, and with few errors.
Articulation The ability to adapt and integrate multiple
actions to develop methods to meet varying and
 novel requirements. At this level, your skills are
so well developed that you can modify
movement to t special requirements or to meet a
problem situation.
Naturalization The ability to perform actions in an automatic,
intuitive, or unconscious way. At this level, your
performance is automatic with little physical or
mental exertion. Your performance has become
second-nature or natural, without needing to
think much about it.

Harlow Psychomotor Domain

Anita Harrow’s taxonomy is focused on the development of physical fitness, dexterity, agility, and body
control to achieve a high level of expertise. Harrow’s taxonomy is organized according to the degree of
coordination including involuntary responses and learned capabilities. It starts with simple reflexes and
goes to complex highly expressive movements requiring coordination and precision.
Level Definition
Reflex movement Automatic Reactions. These are involuntary
reactions that are elicited without learning in
response to some stimuli.
Fundamental movements Basic movements that can build to more complex
sets of movements. This would include
movements such as walking, running, jumping,
pushing, pulling, twisting, or grasping.
Perceptual abilities The ability to take in information from the
environment and react. This entails cognitive as
well as psychomotor behavior. It is your
interpretation and response to stimuli such as
visual, auditory, tactile, or kinesthetic that enable
you to make adjustments to the environment.
This may include coordinated movements such as
jumping rope, juggling, or catching.
Physical abilities Physical activities requiring endurance, flexibility,
agility, dexterity and strength which produce an
efficiently functioning body. This may include
activities of strenuous effort for long periods of
time, muscular exertion, range of motion, or
precise movements.
Skilled movements Advanced learned movements where a level of
efficiency is achieved. These are skills and
movements that must be learned for games,
sports, dances, performances, or drawing.
Non-discursive communication Expressive and interpretive movement that
communicate meaning without the aid of verbal
commands or help. This is communication
through expressive bodily movements such as
posture, gestures, facial expressions, or creative
movements. These are skills and movements that
you may see with a mime or ballerina.

Simpson Psychomotor Domain

Elizabeth Simpson built her taxonomy on the work of Bloom and others. Simpson’s psychomotor domain
is comprised of utilizing motor skills and coordinating them. Simpson’s taxonomy has a focus toward the
progression of mastery of a skill from observation to invention.
 Level Definition
Perception The ability to use sensory cues to guide physical
activity. This ranges from sensory stimulation,
through cue selection, to translation.
Set The readiness to act. This is your mindset. It is the
mental, physical, and emotional dispositions that
make you respond in a certain way to a situation.
Guided response This is the early stage of learning a complex skill.
It is the first attempts at a physical skill and
involves imitation and trial and error.
Mechanism This is the intermediate stage in learning a
complex physical skill (basic proficiency). It is the
ability to convert learned responses into habitual
actions so the movements can be performed with
a medium level of proficiency and confidence.
Complex overt response The ability to skillfully perform complex
movements correctly (expert). Complex
movements are performed quickly, accurately,
and with a minimum wasted effort.
Adaptation The ability to modify learned skills to meet new
or special requirements. Your skills are so well
developed that you can modify movement
patterns to t special requirements.
Origination The ability to create new movement for a specific
situation or problem. You are able to develop an
original skill from a learned skill

REFERENCES:
https://thepeakperformancecenter.com/educational-learning/learning/process/domains-of-
learning/psychomotor-domain/
Dave, R. H. (1970). In R. J. Armstrong et al., Developing and Writing Behavioral Objectives. Tucson, AZ:
Educational Innovators Press. Harrow, A.J. (1972). A taxonomy of the psychomotor domain. New York:
David McKay Co.