1. Observations and Inferences
The nature of science.
Scientific knowledge is the product of observation and inference.

2. Observations and Inferences
Essential Question
How do scientists use observations and inferences?
Do Now
Look at the drawing.
What do you notice?(observation)
What do you think happened?(inference

3. Observations and Inferences
How does your story change?
Observation?
Inference?
추론(inference)의 사전적 정의 : 알려진 사실로부터 새로운 사실을 추출해 나가는 과정

4. Observations and Inferences
How does your story change?
Observation?
Inference?

5. Observations and Inferences
What do you observe?
What do you infer?
Compare what you think now
to your earlier written accounts.

6. Observations and Inferences
What do you observe?
What do you infer?
Compare what you think now
to your earlier written accounts.

7. Write one observation.
Write one inference.

8. Write one observation.
Write one inference.

9. Write one observation.
Write one inference.

10. Write one observation.
Write one inference.

11. Write one observation.
Write one inference.

12. Quantitative / Qualitative Observation
Quantitative observations are ones that are based on a QUANTITY.
These would be measurements.
Weight
Height
Length
Qualitative Observations.
These are based on characteristics.
Color
Size
Texture

13. Scientific Method Scientists do two main types of studies.
Experimental Observational
Study, Observe, analyze
Control, Test

14. Experimental Study
To answer a question or solve a problem through a test. Probably what you learned in middle school.
Problem
Background information
Hypothesis
Experiment
Analyze data
Conclusion

15. Observational Study
Can’t always test so scientist will OBSERVE and try to learn that way. Common in earth science.
Why can’t you always test?
Example: What kind of life is in a pond ecosystem?
Observation: Go out into the pond and make observations and collect specimens.
Analyze data: Study specimens.
Conclusion: Talk about what you learned.

16. Observations and Inferences
Scientific knowledge is developed from a combination of both observations and inferences.
Observations are made from information gathered with the five senses, often augmented with technology.
Inferences are logical interpretations derived from a combination of observation and prior knowledge.
Together, they form the basis of all scientific ideas.

17. Summary
What is the difference between an observation and an inference.
What is the difference between a quantitative observation and a qualitative observation.
How can people have different inferences about the same observations.
What is an observational study?