1. Observation & Inference What is the difference?

2. Observations Any information collected with the senses. Quantitative – measureable or countable »3 meters long »4 marbles »50 kilograms »35 degrees Celsius Qualitative – describable, not measureable »red flowers »smells like fresh baked cookies »Tastes bitter The skill of describing scientific events

3. Inference Conclusions or deductions based on observations. The process of drawing a conclusion from given evidence. Practice: Observations: –I hear people screaming –I smell cotton candy, popcorn, and hamburgers –I see a lot of people Inference = ?

4. Look at these two sets of animal tracks. 1. List 3 OBSERVATIONS Make an INFERENCE

5. Now what do you think? 2. Make 3 OBSERVATIONS Make an INFERENCE

6. Now what do you think? 3. Make 3 OBSERVATIONS Make an INFERENCE

7. Questions you need to answer and think about: 1.Did your inference change as you made more observations? 2.Were your observations as good as your peers? Why/why not? 3.How will this skill of observing and describing with details help you in this class? 4.Will this skill help you in other areas? you in this class?

8. Source of graphic: http://bob.nap.edu/html/evolution98/evol6-e.html http://bob.nap.edu/html/evolution98/evol6-e.html

9. modified by Liz LaRosa, from original posted at: www.science- class.net/PowerPoints/Observation_Infer ence_8th.ppt www.science- class.net/PowerPoints/Observation_Infer ence_8th.ppt