Action Verbs for Developing Objectives in Projects / Research
- 1. ACTION VERBS FOR USE IN DEVELOPING OBJECTIVES THESE VERBS ARE BETTER AVOIDED Those that are often used but are open to many interpretations: appreciate, have faith in, know, learn, understand, believe LEVEL OF LEARNING COGNITIVE LEARNING The participant should be able to... Knowledge (remember information) characterize, cite, count, define, describe, draw, identify, indicate, label, list, match, name, outline, point, quote, read, recall, recite, recognize, record, relate, repeat, reproduce, select, state, tabulate, tell, trace, write Comprehension (understand or organize stored info.) associate, classify, compare, compute, contrast, convert, defend, derive, describe, differentiate, discuss, distinguish, estimate, explain, express, extend, extrapolate, generate, give examples, illustrate, infer, interpolate, interpret, locate, paraphrase, predict, reorder, report, restate, review, rewrite, summarize, translate Application (use info. to solve problems) apply, calculate, change, choose, classify, complete, compute, demonstrate, discover, dramatize, employ, examine, illustrate, interpolate, interpret, locate, manipulate, modify, operate, order, practice, predict, prepare, produce, relate, report, restate, review, schedule, select, show, sketch, solve, translate, use, utilize Analysis (consider evidence to reach conclusion) analyze, appraise, break down, conclude, contract, criticize, debate, deduce, detect, determine, diagram, differentiate, discriminate, distinguish, experiment, identify, illustrate, infer, inspect, inventory, outline, point out, question, regroup, relate, separate, select, separate, subdivide, summarize Synthesis (break down info. To understand components) arrange, assemble, categorize, codify, collect, combine, compile, compose, construct, create, design, detect, develop, devise, draw, explain, formulate, generalize, generate, integrate, manage, modify, organize, originate, plan, predict, prepare, prescribe, produce, propose, rearrange, reconstruct, relate, reorganize, revise, rewrite, solve, specify, summarize, synthesize, tell, write Evaluation (judge merit) appraise, argue, assess, choose, compare, conclude, contrast, criticize, critique, decide, describe, discriminate, determine, estimate, explain, evaluate, grade, interpret, judge, justify, measure, rank, rate, recommend, relate, revise, score, select, summarize, support, test LEVEL OF LEARNING PSYCHOMOTOR LEARNING The participant should be able to ... Motor skills auscultate, diagnose, hold, measure, palpate, pass, percuss, project, visualize, etc.
- 2. LEVEL OF LEARNING AFFECTIVE LEARNING The participant should be able to... Receive (attend to stimuli) ask, choose, describe, follow, give, hold, identify, locate, name, pick, point to, select, reply, use Respond (react to stimuli) aid, answer, assist, comply, conform, discuss greet, help, label, perform, practice, present, read, recite, report, select, tell, write Value (attach significance to ideas) complete, describe, differentiate, explain, follow, form, initiate, invite, join, justify, propose, read, report, select, share, start, study, work Organization (build value systems) adhere, alter, arrange, assemble, combine, compare, complete, defend, explain, generalize, identify , integrate, modify , order, organize, prepare, relate, synthesize Characterization (develop person style) act, convince, discriminate, display, exemplify , influence, listen, modify , perform, practice, question, reflect, revise, serve, solve, use, verify