Observation & Inference

Observations• Any information collected with our five 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

• A skill for describing scientific events

Observations

Objective

• an observation based on fact

fact – a piece of information that can be

strictly defined and proved true.

Subjective

• an observation based on opinion

opinion – a statement that expresses a belief,

value, or feeling

Observations

• Science looks like fun today.

• Kanye West’s songs sound good.

• The Smartboard is white and grey.

• Poutine taste good.

• The summer was too short.

• There are sixty seconds in a minute.

Inference• Conclusions based on observations.• The process of drawing a conclusion from evidence or observation

Practice: • Observations:

• I hear people screaming.• I smell cotton candy, popcorn, and vomit.• I see a lot of people.

• Inference = ?

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

Now what do you think?

Make 3 OBSERVATIONS

Make an INFERENCE