Behavioral Verbs for Effective Learning Objectives in the
Cognitive, Affective, and Psychomotor Domains
Objectives are precise, measurable results that the learner is expected to accomplish
Cognitive verbs
Knowledge Comprehension Application Analysis Synthesis Evaluation
define
discuss
compute
distinguish
diagnose
evaluation
list
describe
illustrate
analyze
propose
compare
recall
explain
operate
differentiate
design
assess
name
identify
perform
compare
manage
justify
recognize
translate
interpret
contrast
hypothesize
judge
state
restate
apply
categorize
summarize
appraise
repeat
express
use
appraise
plan
rate
record
convert
practice
classify
formulate
choose
label
estimate
predict
outline
arrange
decide
organize
Affective verbs
Receiving Responding Valuing Organization Value Complex
sit erect
answer
join
adhere
act
reply
greet
share
integrate
practice
accept
read
complete
organize
discriminate
show
report
follow
influence
Psychomotor verbs
Perception Set Response Mechanism Complex Guided
Adaptation Origination
identify
react
display
display
display
adapt
create
detect
respond
manipulate
manipulate
manipulate
revise
compose
differentiate
start
work
work
work
change
arrange
perform
write
operate
Words to AVOID
know
learn
really know
understand
approach
appreciate
think critically
expand horizons
grasp the significance of
expand understanding
Examples
After attending this activity, the participant will demonstrate the ability to:
• Recognize four common causes of shoulder pain
• Compare and contrast several management strategies for patients with chronic shoulder pain
• Describe the current clinical practice for the treatment of metastatic brain tumors in adults
• Evaluate the process of translating laboratory research into clinical trials for patients with malignant
gliomas
• Outline current advances in molecular biology, immune therapy, stem cell therapeutics, and drug
delivery systems for brain tumors
• Identify challenges caregivers face in caring for patients with brain tumors
• Recognize quality of life issues for patients with brain tumors and the effectiveness of measurement
tools.
Word Bank
accept
act
adapt
adhere
analyze
answer
apply
appraise
arrange
assess
categorize
change
choose
classify
compare
complete
compute
contrast
convert
create
decide
define
describe
design
detect
diagnose
differentiate
discriminate
discuss
display
distinguish
estimate
evaluation
explain
express
follow
formulate
greet
hypothesize
identify
illustrate
influence
integrate
interpret
join
judge
justify
label
list
manage
manipulate
name
operate
organize
outline
perform
plan
practice
predict
propose
rate
react
read
recall
recognize
record
repeat
reply
report
respond
restate
revise
share
show
start
state
summarize
translate
use
work
write
