Observations and Inferences

Observations Means using one or more of your five senses to gather information. Must be a FACT Must be specific and accurate, so that it means the same to everyone. Example: Incorrect: The burning bag smelled nasty Correct: The burning bag smelled similar to rotten eggs

Types of Observations Qualitative observations – factual descriptions that DO NOT use numbers Example – Mrs. Weimer has blue eyes Quantitative observations – factual descriptions that DO use numbers Example – Mrs. Weimer has two eyes

Inference When you explain or interpret something based on what you observe. It is NOT a guess or an opinion! Example: You see a lot of students in the halls between classes wearing hats so you infer that one of the teams is having a hat day.

Make your own inferences! All middle school students are bringing lunch from home. The principal interrupts class and calls a student from the room. The classroom lights are off.

Observation or Inference? You shake a box and hear nothing. The box is empty. You are holding a peanut. The peanuts inside the shell have a skin around them. A scientist watches a group of bees. More bees land on the yellow flowers than on the purple flowers. You measure the sides of a cube to be 3 cm. The volume of the cube is 27 cubic centimeters.