Knowledge State

Knowledge Type

Ambiguous

Equivocal

Uncertain

Complex

Declarative (know about)

No schema for classifying or describing something

vague boundaries between classes

Classified or described within some level of confidence

Classified with confidence, but within a schema having many intricately related attributes

(know how)

No script for describing a procedure or event sequence (e.g. tacit skill)

Multiple possible procedures or sequences

One procedure defined within some level of confidence of appropriateness or predictability of sequence

One procedure or sequence defined with confidence but having many intricately related steps

(know why)

No explanation for why something occurs or occurred

Multiple possible explanations

Once explanation proposed within some level of confidence of appropriateness or predictability of cause/effect

One explanation defined with confidence, but having may intricately related causes and/or effects

(know with)

No understanding of relationships among elements

Multiple possible relationships among elements

One set of relationships defined within some level of confidence or predictability

One set of relationships defined with confidence, but having many intricately related elements.