Observation

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Observation Inference6th ScienceMrs. Bright
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Observations

• Information gained through the senses.

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Scientific Investigation

• Scientific Observation
• Identify and describe properties using your 5
  senses (qualitative) and scientific tools
  (quantitative)

What sense is missing?
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TASTE !!!!
REMEMBER Never put things in your mouth in the
Science Lab without permission !!!
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Inference

• An explanation of an observation.
• The process of drawing a conclusion from given
  evidence, prior knowledge, and experience.
• Must be logical.

Make an observation. Make an inference.
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Scientific Investigation

Inference
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Scientific Investigation

• Make an inference. What is going on here?

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Tracks like these are common in parts of New
England and in the southwestern United States.
What do you OBSERVE? What can you INFER?
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Now what do you think?
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Infer what happened based on your observations.
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Scientific Investigation

• Qualitative Observation use only the 5 senses
  and refer to properties such as
• color, shape, texture, taste, sound

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Scientific Investigation

• Quantitative Observation use numbers, amounts
  or measurements
• Can also make comparisons such as
• More than, less than, few, many, all, none
• As long as a number is involved!!

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QUANTITATIVE uses tools to collect measurements.

• Length, Height, Distance (meters)
• Rulers, Meter Sticks, Meter Tape
• Mass (grams)
• Triple Beam Balance
• Volume (liters)
• Graduated cylinders
• Weight (newtons)
• Spring scale

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Source of graphichttp//bob.nap.edu/html/evolut
ion98/evol6-e.html