Observation Skills

Observation Skills

Simple Demonstration! • What are your observations? http://www.digplanet.com/wiki/Candle

Observation Vs Inference http://destinationku.blogspot.com/2010/07/answers-for-chapter-exercises-mqf1033.html http://sivers.org/touch-all-senses

Observation • When you OBSERVE, you become aware of something with your senses. • When you OBSERVE, you simply describe something as it appears to you. • When you OBSERVE, you are describing a fact.

Observation • 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 cookies • Tastes bitter • The skill of describing scientific events

Inference • When you INFER, you make a mental judgment based on your observations. • When you INFER, you require though. You cannot directly observe an inference. • Example: • Wake up, see dark clouds, see puddles on ground…you infer that it rained during the night but you didn’t SEE the rain.

Inference • Conclusions or deductions based on observations. • The process of drawing a conclusion from given evidence. Practice: • Observations: • I hear people screaming • I smell cotton candy, popcorn, and hamburgers • I see a lot of people • Inference = ?

Oct 11th- Oct 21st http://www.ncagr.gov/markets/commodit/horticul/apples/images/StateFairLogo.jpg http://images.raleighskyline.com/2006/the-2006-north-carolina-state-fair/1800/lots_of_rides_at_the_fair/

Let’s Play Again!

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

Now what do you think? Make 3 OBSERVATIONS Make an INFERENCE

Let’s look back at our original observations. Are any of them actually inferences?

Source of graphic:http://bob.nap.edu/html/evolution98/evol6-e.html Presentation altered by Eric Baker from Liz LaRosawww.middleschoolscience.com 2009, from original posted at:www.science-class.net/PowerPoints/Observation_Inference_8th.ppt

Observation Skills