Becoming a Successful Health Becoming a Successful Health Sciences StudentSciences Student

In a Health Science course you will be asked 2 types of questions.

Lower level thinking questions.Lower level thinking questions.– require you to simply recall an answer

Higher level thinking questions.Higher level thinking questions.– require much more “brain power” and a

more extensive answer

These are classified using Bloom’s Taxonomy

Lower Level QuestionsLower Level Questions

Requires you to: – remember

– recall

– organize

– apply

Each question has only oneone correct

answer.

These are categorized as follows:

KnowledgeKnowledge• recall of information • knowledge of dates, events, places • knowledge of major ideas

Question Cues:Question Cues:list, define, describe, identify, label, quote, examine, name, who, when, where, etc.

Example:Example:

What is the normal temperature for an adult?

ComprehensionComprehension• understanding information • interpret facts, compare, contrast • order, group• predict consequences

Question Cues:Question Cues: summarize, describe, interpret, contrast, predict, estimate, differentiate, discuss

Example: Example:

What is the difference between a normal oral and axillary temperature for an adult?

ApplicationApplication• use information • use methods or concepts in new situations • solve problems using knowledge

Questions Cues:Questions Cues: apply, demonstrate, calculate, solve, examine, modify, change, classify

Example:Example:

The nurse asks to you take Mr. May’s temperature. He is receiving oxygen by nasal cannula. What method would you use to take his temperature?

Higher Level QuestionsHigher Level Questions

Requires you to: – think more critically– evaluate information and situations– make decisions– resolve controversies or problems– find the best solution

Questions may have more than one answer that is or

seems to be correct.

AnalysisAnalysis• seeing patterns • organization of parts • recognition of hidden meanings • identification of components

Question Cues:Question Cues:analyze, order, explain, connect, infer classify, arrange, divide, compare

ExampleExample

Explain why the temperature varies when taken orally, rectally, and in the axilla.

SynthesisSynthesis• use old ideas to create new ones • relate knowledge from several areas • predict, draw conclusions

Question clues:Question clues:

setup, plan, produce, hypothesize, develop, design, predict, arrange, assemble, create

ExampleExample

You walk into Mr. Jones’ room and discover him lying in the floor, unconscious and bleeding. Describe you actions.

EvaluationEvaluation• compare data from a variety of observations • assess the value of evidence • make choices based on observations

Question cues:Question cues:

judge, assess, decide, measure, evaluate, inferrate, score, predict, revise, choose, conclude

Example Example

Mr. Jones’ breathing becomes very labored and he has his hand on his chest. His skin is cool and clammy. However, he tells you that he feels fine. Is this a serious situation? Why?

Answering Higher Order QuestionsAnswering Higher Order Questions• When answering higher order questions, there may

be more than one “right” answer. • However, you must choose the best answer.

• To find this you should always consider:

• safety issues• abnormal or critical observations• quality of life issues• priority

Use these to help you choose the Use these to help you choose the BESTBEST answer. answer.