Taxonomy is a method of systematizing areas of knowledge with complex organization according to the hierarchical position of each of the elements under consideration. The concept that is closest to taxonomy is classification — a form of organizing information in which the objects studied are combined into classes or groups based on common features and characteristics.
History of occurrence
For an accurate understanding of what taxonomy is, it is necessary to study the history of this concept.
The term "taxonomy" was introduced into science at the beginning of the 19th century by the French-Swiss biologist Augustin de Candolle. He developed a classification of the studied plants, so taxonomy was first used only in a science such as botany. After some time, the invented method became widespread not only in botany, but also in other areas of biology, as well as in other systems of scientific knowledge.
Taxonomy has a direct relationship with typology - a method that creates structures of objects and combines them into groups using the generalized type of the subject in question.
Taxonomic schemes and categories
The tasks of taxonomy, as one of the subjects of taxonomy, include establishing taxonomic ranks and determining the gradation of system elements. Thus, the classification is formed by the sequential inclusion of class objects in another class according to some general principle. In addition, at the level of each class, the question of the relationship between the existing classes and the volume of one of the selected groups in relation to the other is considered.
In order to single out groups that have the characteristics of mutual subordination in their properties, they use the concept of taxonomic categories. The groups of objects included in the classification system themselves are called taxa. Taxa have common features and properties.
At the last stage of classification, taxonomic schemes are formed - systems of components. According to them, one can trace the factors of creating groups and properties, according to which objects were selected in the corresponding groups. Schemes are one-dimensional and multidimensional. One-dimensional schemes, which are considered ideal in taxonomy, are based on the presence of only one general classification criterion. Multidimensional schemes, in turn, take into account a large number of common properties when creating a system.
Types of Taxonomy
About what taxonomy is and how classifications are created with its help, you can learn in more detail from the study of two types of taxonomy: natural and artificial.
Natural taxonomy classifies objects according to an analysis of the available properties of objects. Artificial - introduces one logical principle and on its basis creates groups of objects. In some sciences, both types of classification are used at once.
In addition, there is a classification of taxonomy according to the nature of the taxonomic procedure, which also distinguishes two types: qualitative and quantitative taxonomy.
Qualitative taxonomy groups objects according to the presence or absence of common attributes, and quantitative taxonomy - according to the degree of similarity of objects to each other according to available properties. Thus, using quality taxonomy, clearly defined classes and groups can be obtained. A quantitative classification, in turn, creates only fields - groups with blurred borders, where some objects can belong to several of them at once.
Bloom theory
In 1956, the British scientist Benjamin Bloom created a new taxonomy designed for educational use.
Until today, the application of Bloom's taxonomy in the development of curricula and projects is considered one of the most effective and useful methods. In the field of education, he distinguishes three levels:
- cognitive, related to the acquisition of knowledge;
- affective, attached to emotional reactions to influences;
- psychomotor, which includes the acquisition of any physical skills.
Cognitive area
The cognitive field in Bloom's theory includes the acquisition of knowledge and information, as well as the development of mental abilities. For example: studying and reproducing from memory certain facts, building models or schemes that contribute to the development of mental abilities, etc.
As an example of a taxonomy at the cognitive level, Bloom identifies six types of cognitive process:
- knowledge - the study and reproduction of information;
- understanding is a retelling of the meaning of the text with its interpretation;
- application - the ability to use the acquired theoretical knowledge in practice;
- analysis - the distribution of the whole material into its constituent elements, finding the differences between them;
- rating - determination of the importance of the material in relation to other information;
- creation - the ability to discover new ideas on the basis of other, unrelated pieces of information.
Each of the six types can be considered as one of the transient levels of complexity of the cognitive level of training. Therefore, it is advisable to start the educational process with the first of them - with knowledge, and gradually move on to the next.
Affective area
The concept of Bloom's taxonomy also includes an affective area related to the emotional state and feelings evoked by the student during the educational process. The following types can be attributed to this level:
- perception - the student’s willingness to hear what they are told and pay attention to other people's words;
- response - the presence of motivation to participate in the educational process, the manifestation of activity;
- assimilation of values - acceptance of a positive or negative assessment for any subject or phenomenon;
- organization of values - the ability to prioritize and contrast the unimportant with more significant;
- internalization of values - the introduction of value attitudes into their behavior in the learning process.
Thus, it can be noted that the taxonomy of goals is a technique that affects not only the mental side of learning, but also the emotional one. This has a positive effect on the acquisition and assimilation of new knowledge and information.
Psychomotor area
About what is a taxonomy in the psychomotor area, at the moment there is the least amount of information in comparison with other levels of the educational process. It is known that the area under consideration covers goals that are related to various motor coordination. These include: the acquisition of writing skills, speech, labor training, etc.
The skills considered at the psychomotor level have the same working out algorithm: obtaining information about a skill from the given example, understanding it, self-applying it in practice and evaluating the result. Repeated repetition of actions in the form of positive experience, as a rule, improves the result over time.
The psychomotor sphere immediately covers two departments of human activity: cerebral and muscular. A study of the literature in this area shows that the sphere of the educational process under consideration is closely related to the other two. But the manifestation of this connection, like the entire psychomotor level, has been studied most poorly.
The psychomotor sphere is widespread in such areas of education as medical disciplines, art and music, physical education, engineering.
The use of taxonomy
Today, few people know what a taxonomy is and why it is needed. But, nevertheless, this technique is used in many areas, especially in pedagogy. Bloom's taxonomy to modern times is the subject of research by many scientists. Little explored areas continue to be explored and updated with new information. In addition, the theory developed by the English scientist is also applied in practice - directly in the educational process.
Taxonomy, affecting other areas, is no less common in science, where you need to build a clear classification of the studied objects.