Types of knowledge
Types of knowledge
In understanding how people learn, it’s also important to differentiate between types of knowledge.
Effective clinical education involves helping learners acquire not just more knowledge, but different kinds of knowledge. Each type plays a role in professional expertise.
1. Declarative knowledge ("knowing what")
This is factual and conceptual knowledge. Examples include anatomy, physiology, diagnostic criteria and pharmacology. It's essential as a foundation and often assessed in written exams or MCQs.
However, declarative knowledge on its own rarely leads to clinical competence.
2. Procedural knowledge ("knowing how")
This refers to knowing how to perform tasks or apply techniques. For example, how to interpret an ECG, how to insert a canula, or how to break bad news using a recognised framework. It's often developed through repeated practice, feedback and observation.
3. Tacit knowledge ("embodied know-how")
Tacit knowledge is subtle, intuitive, and often difficult to articulate. It involves professional judgement, situational awareness, and a “feel” for the right course of action, such as recognising when a patient “just doesn’t look right.” It develops over time, through lived experience and reflection in practice.
