B l o o m ' s Ta x o n o m y : T h e

Psychomotor 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)

Perception (awareness): The Examples: Detects non-verbal

ability to use sensory cues to communication cues. Estimate where
guide motor activity. This ranges a ball will land after it is thrown and

from sensory stimulation, through
cue selection, to translation.
Set: Readiness to act. It includes
mental, physical, and emotional
sets. These three sets are
dispositions that predetermine a
person's response to different
situations (sometimes called
mindsets).
Guided Response: The early
stages in learning a complex skill
that includes imitation and trial and
error. Adequacy of performance is
achieved by practicing.
Mechanism (basic proficiency):
then moving to the correct location to
catch the ball. Adjusts heat of stove
to correct temperature by smell and
taste of food. Adjusts the height of
the forks on a forklift by comparing
where the forks are in relation to the
pallet.
Key Words: chooses, describes,
detects, differentiates, distinguishes,
identifies, isolates, relates, selects.
Examples: Knows and acts upon a
sequence of steps in a manufacturing
process. Recognize one's abilities
and limitations. Shows desire to learn
a new process (motivation). NOTE:
This subdivision of Psychomotor is
closely related with the Responding
to phenomena subdivision of the
Affective domain.
Key Words: begins, displays,
explains, moves, proceeds, reacts,
shows, states, volunteers.
Examples: Performs a mathematical
equation as demonstrated. Follows
instructions to build a model.
Responds hand-signals of instructor
while learning to operate a forklift.
Key Words: copies, traces, follows,
react, reproduce, responds
Examples: Use a personal

This is the intermediate stage in
learning a complex skill. Learned
responses have become habitual
and the movements can be
performed with some confidence
and proficiency.
Complex Overt Response
(Expert): The skillful performance
of motor acts that involve complex
movement patterns. Proficiency is
indicated by a quick, accurate, and
highly coordinated performance,
requiring a minimum of
energy. This category includes
performing without hesitation, and
automatic performance. For
example, players are often utter
sounds of satisfaction or expletives
as soon as they hit a tennis ball or
throw a football, because they can
tell by the feel of the act what the
result will produce.
Adaptation: Skills are well
developed and the individual can
modify movement patterns to fit
special requirements.
computer. Repair a leaking faucet.
Drive a car.
Key Words: assembles, calibrates,
constructs, dismantles, displays,
fastens, fixes, grinds, heats,
manipulates, measures, mends,
mixes, organizes, sketches.
Examples: Maneuvers a car into a
tight parallel parking spot. Operates a
computer quickly and accurately.
Displays competence while playing
the piano.
Key Words: assembles, builds,
calibrates, constructs, dismantles,
displays, fastens, fixes, grinds, heats,
manipulates, measures, mends,
mixes, organizes, sketches.
NOTE: The Key Words are the same
as Mechanism, but will have adverbs
or adjectives that indicate that the
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
machine that it was not originally
intended to do (machine is not
damaged and there is no danger in
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
gymnastic routine.
particular situation or specific
problem. Learning outcomes
Key Words: arranges, builds,
emphasize creativity based upon
combines, composes, constructs,
highly developed skills.
creates, designs, initiate, makes,
originates.

Other Psychomotor Domain

Ta x o n o m i e s
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.

Imitation Observing and
patterning behavior after
someone else. Performance
may be of low quality.
Performing a skill while observing a
demonstrator.
Key Words: copy, follow, mimic, repeat,
replicate, reproduce, trace

Manipulation Being able Examples: Being able to perform a skill on

to perform certain actions by one's own after taking lessons or reading
memory or following about it. Follows instructions to build a
 model.
instructions.
Key Words: act, build, execute, perform

Examples: Working and reworking

something, so it will be just right. Perform
Precision Refining,
a skill or task without assistance.
becoming more exact.
Demonstrate 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,
Articulation Coordinating drama, color, sound, etc. Combining a
and adapting a series of series of skills or activities to meet a novel
actions to achieve harmony requirement.
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
quickly and accurately. Displays
a high level performance
competence while playing the piano.
until it become second-
Michael Jordan playing basketball or
nature or natural, without
Nancy Lopez hitting a golf ball.
needing to think much about
it.
Key Words: create, design, develop,
invent, manage, naturally

Harrow (1972):
Category
Reflex Movements Reactions
that are not learned, such as a
involuntary reaction
Fundamental Movements
Basic movements such as
walking, or grasping.
Perceptual Abilities
Response to stimuli such as
visual, auditory, kinesthetic, or
tactile discrimination.
Physical Abilities (fitness)
Stamina that must be developed
for further development such as
strength and agility.
Skilled movements Advanced
learned movements as one would
find in sports or acting.
Nondiscursive
communication Use effective
Example and Key Words (verbs)
Examples: instinctive response
Key Words: react, respond
Examples: perform a simple task
Key Words: grasp an object, throw a
ball, walk
Examples: track a moving object,
recognize a pattern
Key Words: catch a ball, draw or write
Examples: gain strength, run a
marathon
Key Words: agility, endurance,
strength
Examples: Using an advanced series
of integrated movements, perform a
role in a stage play or play in a set of
series in a sports game.
Key Words: adapt, constructs,
creates, modifies
Examples: Express one's self by
 using movements and gestures
body language, such as gestures
and facial expressions. Key Words: arrange, compose,
interpretation