If an objective is framed to specify measurable outcomes that must be achieved, which type is it?

• A. Performance objective
• B. Behavioral objective
• C. Learning objective
• D. Evaluation objective

Answer: (A)

When an objective is built around specific results that must be demonstrated, it centers on performance—what the learner can do and how well they must do it. A performance objective lays out the exact task, the conditions under which it’s performed, and the criterion for success. That combination makes the outcome clearly observable and measurable, so you can judge whether the objective has been met. For example, you might state that after instruction, the learner will complete a given task within a set time and with a defined level of accuracy. This directly ties the goal to a concrete performance and a standard, which is why it best fits the idea of measurable outcomes that must be achieved.

Learning objectives describe knowledge or skills the learner should acquire, not necessarily the specific perform-and-measure result. Evaluation objectives relate to how you will assess outcomes rather than what the learner must do. Behavioral objectives also focus on observable actions, but the term performance objective is the standard phrasing used to emphasize the task-based, measurable criteria that define whether the objective is achieved.