Observation and Inferences

Observations and Inferences

NOTES (p 17):

Observation - recognizing and noting some FACT to gather information about the world
- You make observations using your five senses
- Observations must be specific and accurate, not relative, so that it means the same to everyone.
  - Example:
    - Incorrect - the burning bag smelled nasty
    - Correct - the burning bag smelled similar to rotten eggs

Observations can be qualitative or quantitative
- Qualitative observations - factual descriptions that do not use numbers
  - Example: Mr. Jones has blue eyes
- Quantitative observations - factual descriptions that do use numbers
  - Example: Mr. Jones has two eyes
Inference - a possible explanation or guess about an observation

Example: you leave the movie theater and see the ground is wet so you infer that it rained.

LABS / HANDOUTS:

Observation and Inference Worksheet (p 22)

Students are given a worksheet with a series of observations and are asked to make inferences based on observations

Observation and Inference Lab (p 21)

Students are given a box with a mystery object located within. Using their senses, they must make 10 observations and 5 inferences.
The students receive a Far Side cartoon and are asked to make 10 observations and 5 inferences about the cartoon.