An analysis of verbs used in the course outcomes of outcome-based integrated courses at a medical school based on the taxonomy of educational objectives

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to analyze the course outcomes of integrated courses of a medical school that introduced an outcome-based curriculum and to suggest ways to improve techniques in the description of outcomes. METHODS: In order to investigate the course outcomes of 39 courses in the first and second grades at Kyungpook National University School of Medicine in Korea, verbs for the course outcome were classified according to Bloom’s taxonomy and frequency analysis was completed. The appropriateness of use of verbs in description of the outcomes was also analyzed. RESULTS: The total number of course outcomes for both grades was 497. The number of course outcomes per credit ranged from a minimum of 0.9 to a maximum of 22.0. Most of the course outcomes were classified as the comprehension domain according to Bloom’s taxonomy. The most frequently used verb was “explain,” accounting for 61.0% (n=303) of the entire course outcome verbs. Some verbs in the outcomes, however, were unmeasurable. CONCLUSION: The major findings of this study include the followings. First, the number of course outcomes varied according to courses. Second, several course outcomes included unmeasurable verbs. Finally, most of the verbs used to describe course outcome belonged to the two lower levels of Bloom’s taxonomy—knowledge and comprehension. In order to improve the description of course outcomes, this study suggests that it is necessary to adjust the number of course outcomes, applicate overt behavior verbs, and elevate the level of course outcomes from the lower memorizing level to the higher application level.