QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE OBSERVATIONS SEPTEMBER 7, 2015 BIOLOGY 10DM MRS. HAUGHTON

TYPES OF OBSERVATIONS As a scientist making observations, you may be asked to comment on what you observe concerning: STRUCTURE: the way things look PROCESSES or EVENTS: the way something happens (function)

These observations may be: QUALITATIVE QUANTITATIVE

QUALITATIVE OBSERVATIONS These observations describe a quality that cannot be measured. Examples include: shape (round, flat) Texture (rough, smooth) Behaviour (happy, sad)

QUANTITATIVE OBSERVATIONS These observations are numerical and measureable qualities. Examples include: Time (10 seconds) Number (3 boys) Volume ( 100 cm3)

Are the following examples of qualitative or quantitative observations? Smell Colour Sound Brightness of light Street smarts Height Days Speed Clarity of speech Reaction time

QUALITATIVE OBSERVATION QUANTITATIVE OBSERVATION WORK Complete the following table. FEATURE QUALITATIVE OBSERVATION QUANTITATIVE OBSERVATION MANGO LEAF CHILDREN ELEPHANT

DESCRIBING SPECIMEN Below are some of the features and descriptions that you may use if asked to describe animal or plant specimen.

ORIENTATION OR POINT OF VIEW OF ANIMALS Anterior – the end which moves forward Posterior – the end opposite the anterior (tail or rear end) Lateral – the right or left side Dorsal – the back region, what you see from above Ventral – the region nearest the ground

DESCRIPTORS USED WHEN DESCRIBING ANIMALS FEATURE USEFUL TERMS SHAPE Flattened, cylindrical, oval, elongated SIZE Compared to typical one or to some common item BODY Segmented, divided in other ways OUTER COVERING Colour, texture/material, dry/moist APPENDAGES Number, shape, size, point of attachment, how they suit the animal’s way of life ANTERIOR END Sense organs, mouthparts, appendages PORTERIOR END Openings, appendages SPECIAL MARKINGS Differences between dorsal and ventral surfaces, markings, colours etc.

DESCRIPTORS USED WHEN DESCRIBING LEAVES AND LEAFLETS FEATURE USEFUL TERMS TYPE Simple or compound SHAPE Oval, rounded, star-shaped, lobed, heart-shaped APEX Pointed, rounded, blunt MARGIN Unbroken, serrated or toothed LAMINA Smooth, hairy or velvety; waxy; thick, thin COLOUR Dark or light green, variegated, striped, purple, etc VENATION Prominent mid-rib, branching veins, parallel veins PETIOLE Long, short, thick, slender, absent

MAKING COMPARISONS There are four major problems that exam students make when asked to answer questions about making comparisons. These are:

1). Describing one specimen completely and then the other. To correct this, make single statements about one of the specimen then make a matching statement about the other. Do this until finished.

EXAMPLES An example of the WRONG WAY is: A bird has feathers, beak and wings while a fish has scales, mouth and fins. The CORRECT WAY is: A bird has feathers while a fish has scales. A bird had a beak while a fish has a mouth. A bird had wings while a fish has fins.

2). Comparing features which are not related in any way. To correct this, comparisons should always be point to point. You must compare features that match.

EXAMPLES An example of the WRONG WAY to do this is: A bird has a beak while a fish has scales. The CORRECT WAY is: A bird has a beak while a fish has a mouth. A bird has feathers while a fish has scales.

3). Comparing structures which are never found in both organisms. To correct this, if the feature is not found in both organisms, do not even mention it for one.

EXAMPLES An example of the WRONG WAY to do this is: A lizard has a stomach but a tree does not. The CORRECT WAY would be: Not to even mention the lizard’s stomach in relation to the tree in the first place.

4). Using absence as a point of comparison. To correct this: Find an actual feature for comparison and do not simply write that the specimen A does not have the feature that specimen B does.

EXAMPLES An example of the WRONG WAY to do this is: A bird has feathers but a lizard does not. A lizard has a scaly skin while a bird does not. The CORRECT WAY may be to write: A bird has feathers while a lizard has a scaly skin.

RELATING STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION To do this you must first make accurate observations. Then match what you observe to the characteristics of a particular environment, lifestyle or task.

WORKSHEET FIND PLANTS (CIRCLE, X, TICK, ETC) FIND ANIMALS (CIRCLE, X, TICK, ETC) DESCRIBE A PLANT DESCRIBE AN ANIMAL COMPARE TWO PLANTS COMPARE TWO ANIMALS