observation & inference - nbed.nb.ca · inference • conclusions based on observations. •...
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Observation & Inference
You can observe a lot just by watching
Yogi Berra
Observations • Any information collected with our five
senses. • Quantitative – measureable or countable
» 3 meters long
» 4 marbles
» 50 pounds
» 35 degrees Celsius
• Qualitative – describable, not measureable
» red flowers
» smells like fresh baked cookies
» Tastes bitter
• A skill for describing scientific events
Observations
Objective • an observation
based on fact fact – a piece of information
that can be strictly defined and proved true.
Subjective
• an observation based on opinion
opinion – a statement that
expresses a belief, value, or feeling
Observations
• Science looks like fun today.
• Kanye West’s songs sound good.
• The Smartboard is white and grey.
• Poutine taste good.
• The summer was too short.
• There are sixty seconds in a minute.
Look at these two sets of
animal tracks.
List at least 3
OBSERVATIONS
Make Observations
Now what do you think?
Make 3 OBSERVATIONS
Make an INFERENCE
Inference
• Conclusions based on observations.
• The process of drawing a conclusion from evidence or
observation
Practice:
• Observations:
• I hear people screaming.
• I smell cotton candy, popcorn, and vomit.
• I see a lot of people.
• Inference = ?
Now what do you think?
Make 3 OBSERVATIONS
Make an INFERENCE