Learning: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
KSA (Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities [sometimes referred to as SKA]) are characteristics that enables a job holder to accomplish the activities described in a task statement (what the job holder does).
In a learning environment, cognitive, psychomotor, & affective are KSA's counterparts that identify end states of training (objectives).
Learning Outcome Typology
For more detail, see Kraiger, et al. (1993).
- Cognitive (knowledge)
- Verbal Knowledge - factual and declarative knowledge (propositional knowledge) knowledge
- Knowledge Organization - how information and concepts are mentally arranged
- Metacognitive Strategies - allocation and regulation of cognitive resources
- Skill-Based (psychomotor)
- Compilation - routine development and procedure linkage
- Automaticity - ability to perform a task without Conscious monitoring and with other tasks
- Affective (attitudes)
- Attitude - attitude about learning, self-efficacy, perception about ability to perform, and goal setting
- Motivation - motivational disposition
References
Kraiger, K., Ford, J., & Salas, E. (1993). Application of cognitive, skill-based, and affective theories of learning outcomes to new methods of training evaluation. Journal of Applied Psychology, 78, 311-328.
Quinones, Miguel A. and Ehrenstein, ADDIE (1997). Training for a Rapidly Changing Workplace: Applications of Psychological Research. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association, p. 154.
