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Observation Vs Inference Notes and Worksheet

The document discusses the differences between observations and inferences in science. Observations involve using the five senses to collect qualitative or quantitative data without making assumptions, while inferences are logical conclusions made after an experiment based on analyzing observations. Good scientists are observant in noticing details during experiments and making careful observations, and then make inferences to draw conclusions about what was observed.

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Diana Jean Alo-ad
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582 views2 pages

Observation Vs Inference Notes and Worksheet

The document discusses the differences between observations and inferences in science. Observations involve using the five senses to collect qualitative or quantitative data without making assumptions, while inferences are logical conclusions made after an experiment based on analyzing observations. Good scientists are observant in noticing details during experiments and making careful observations, and then make inferences to draw conclusions about what was observed.

Uploaded by

Diana Jean Alo-ad
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Observation vs Inference…what is the difference anyway?

ws#_____

Name:_____________________
Section 1:fill in the blanks from the word bank from below:
Science/ Phipps/ Block#_____

QUANTITATIVE - QUALITATIVE Date:_______


OBSERVATIONS – INFERENCE

One of the most important skills in science is the use of our five senses, or making _____________.
Most of the time we think of observing as something we do with our eyes; when we see something, we
observe it. However, all five of our senses can be used to make observations: sight, hearing, taste, touch,
and smell. A good scientist is obser-vant and notices things in the world. He or she notices what’s going
on in the world, specifically “during the experiment” and becomes curious about what’s happening.

We can make two kinds of observations: either Qualitative or Quantitative. ___________________


data is information that is hard to measure, count, or describe in numbers. It describes the qualities or
characteristics of something. Examples are colors, tastes, and smells. _____________________ data
is information that can be expressed using numbers: something that can be counted or measured. Tools
are often used to collect quantitative data. Examples include quantity, temperature, mass, and length.

After we make observations, our brain makes logical conclusions about our observations called
_____________. These conclusions happen after the experiment “during the analysis.”

Air Plane Observations:


Write three observations about the air plane picture.
To make an OBSERVATION, a scientist will record EXACTLY what he/she sees without making any guesses, judgments,
or assumptions.

1.

2.

3.

Write three inferences about the air plane picture.


An INFERENCE is an assumption, judgment, educated guess or deduction of something. It goes beyond the “facts.”

1.

2.

3.

Connections:
What is 1 observation and inference that you can make about 5 pictures on the slide show?
Observations Inferences
1. 1.

2. 2.

3. 3.

4. 4.

5. 5.

Section 2:

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