Observations and Inferences Using your senses and making sense of your observations

What are Observations? Observations are made using your senses Are made during an experiment Need to be recorded Observations are FACTUAL

What senses do you use? Sight Sound Smell Taste Touch What do you see? What do you hear? Smell What are you smelling? Taste What does it taste like? Touch How does it feel?

Examples of Observations The grass is green The ice took 10 minutes to melt Water is wet The apple turned brown There are bubbles in the liquid The temperature increased

Qualitative vs. Quantitative Observations Qualitative use senses to describe something. Quantitative observations use NUMBERS and or measurements The box is 10 cm. long There are 12 trees in the picture It took the plant 3 months to sprout

Qualitative vs. Quantitative Observations A Qualitative observation is remarking on the quality of something, as opposed to its quantity. For example, saying a cloud is grey is a qualitative observation saying that you can see three clouds on the horizon is a quantitative observation.

What are Inferences? Are your OPINION Inferences are a conclusion you come to based on your observations Are NOT facts

Examples of Inferences Dogs are cute The cat is soft Math is the best subject Everyone likes pizza Spiders are scary

What are Qualitative Observations? Observations that describe what you are observing Uses adjectives (descriptive words) Gives you some description Helps you visualize what you are observing

Qualitative Observations The house is green The tree is tall The temperature is hot The ball is round

What are Quantitative Observations? Observations that have a number with it Gives you specific details

Quantitative Observations There are three chairs The temperature was 90o The house had two levels The girl had 20 pairs of shoes

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