Psychomotor objectives are those specific to discreet physical functions, reflex actions and interpretive movements. Traditionally, these types of objectives are concerned with the physically encoding of information, with movement and/or with activities where the gross and fine muscles are used for expressing or interpreting information or concepts. This area also refers to natural, autonomic responses or reflexes.

As stated earlier, to avoid confusion, if the activity is simply something that is physical which supports another area -- affective or cognitive -- term the objective physical rather than psychomotor. This goes to instructional intent. A primary example of something physical which supports specific cognitive development and skills might be looking through a microscope and identifying and drawing cells. Here the instructional intent of this common scientific activity is not to develop specific skilled proficiency in microscope viewing or in reproducing cells through drawing. The key intent in this activity is that a physical action supports or is a vehicle for cognitive growth and furthering recognition skills. The learner is using the physical action to achieve the cognitive objectives -- identify, recognize, and differentiate varied types of cells. If you are using a physical activity to support a cognitive or affective function, simply label it as something physical ( labeling the objective as kinesthetic, haptic, or tactile is also acceptable) and avoid the term psychomotor.

(Based on Anita Harrow's taxonomy).