Observation & Inference

1. Observation & Inference

2. Observations • Any information collected with the senses. • Quantitative – measureable or countable • 3 meters long • 4 marbles • 50 kilograms • 35 degrees Celsius • Qualitative – describable, not measureable • red flowers • smells like fresh baked cookies • Tastes bitter • The skill of describing scientific events

3. A Little Practice ______ The slug was slimy ______ The laptop is white ______ She is 150cm tall ______ His hair is black ______ You have 3 sisters ______ The candy was sour ______ The bug was 5 cm long ______ The flower is red ______ The mass of the box is 122g ______ My fingernail is 2cm long Number your paper to ten. Read the following examples and decide whether they are Qualitative (QL) or Quantitative (QNT).

4. Inference Conclusions or deductions based on observations. The process of drawing a conclusion from given evidence.

5. Differences between observation and inference Inferences can be very useful, they become the basis for a hypothesis. However, inferences can cause problems if they are taken as observations because they may be wrong or leading to further wrong ideas.

6. Practice Observations: I hear people screaming I smell cotton candy, popcorn, and hamburgers I see a lot of people Inference = ?

7. Look at these two sets of animal tracks. List 3 OBSERVATIONS Make an INFERENCE

8. Make 3 OBSERVATIONS Make an INFERENCE

9. Make 3 OBSERVATIONS Make an INFERENCE

10. In closing… • Why is it easy or difficult to distinguish between observation and inferences? • Did you find yourself using information you previously knew? (movies, books)