Procedural Knowledge vs. Declarative Knowledge — What's the Difference?

Procedural Knowledge and Declarative Knowledge are two fundamental types of knowledge. Procedural knowledge refers to the knowledge of how to perform various tasks and activities, often embodied in skills and learned through practice. Declarative knowledge, on the other hand, is the knowledge of facts and information. It encompasses things that one can state verbally, such as historical data or scientific facts.

In the realm of learning and cognition, Procedural Knowledge represents 'know-how', often difficult to verbalize, involving learned routines and procedures. It's akin to muscle memory in athletes or the intuitive process in skilled artisans. Conversely, Declarative Knowledge is more about 'know-what', consisting of facts and figures that can be explicitly stated, such as the capitals of countries or the laws of physics.

The acquisition of Procedural Knowledge usually requires practice and is often non-conscious, making it a more implicit form of learning. For instance, learning to ride a bike involves procedural knowledge. Declarative Knowledge, however, is typically gained through education and conscious memorization, like learning dates in history.

The use of Procedural Knowledge is often automatic and efficient, requiring less cognitive effort once learned, like driving a car for an experienced driver. On the flip side, Declarative Knowledge involves more conscious thought and is often used in reasoning and problem-solving, like recalling historical events to understand current affairs.

Procedural Knowledge tends to be more durable and resistant to change because it is deeply ingrained through practice. In contrast, Declarative Knowledge can be more easily altered or updated with new information, as it is based on facts and data.