Week #5 / Activity #1

Week #5 / Activity #1

Observations & Inferences

Qualitative Observations

-Qualitative observations are based on quality.

-Quality is non-scientific.

-Quality is an opinion.

*Qualitative observation deals with data that can be observed with our senses: sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing.*

*Qualitative observations do not involve measurements or numbers.*

For instance, colors, smells, and textures of objects are all qualitative observations.

Multiple Choice

True or False;

Qualitative observations do not involve measurements or numbers.

• True

• False

Quantitative Observations

-Quantitative observations are based on quantity.

-Quantity is 'fact' based, therefore quantitative observations are used for science and in the legal system.

*Quantitative observations are made with instruments such as rulers, balances, graduated cylinders, beakers, and thermometers. These results are measurable.*

Multiple Choice

True or False:

*Quantitative observations are made with instruments such as rulers, balances, graduated cylinders, beakers, and thermometers. These results are measurable.*

• True

• False

Qualitative & Quantitative Observations in the REAL world

-In terms of gathering information to better understand a phenomena or event, qualitative observations and quantitative observations are used.

-For example; you see a "UFO"

An investigator would ask you a series of questions.

1) The color of the UFO would be recorded.

2) If the UFO was making a sound or not, this would be recorded.

-For example; you see a large cat out in the forest

An investigator would ask you to describe the color.

An investigator would ask if you heard the cat make a sound.

While color and sound are 'qualitative' observations, they are still useful in gathering information to better understand the event or phenomena in its entirety.

Multiple Choice

True or False;

In terms of gathering information to better understand a phenomena or event, qualitative observations and quantitative observations are used.

• True

• False

Inference

An inference is a conclusion or educated guess drawn from observations as well as previous knowledge.

When we make an inference, we draw a conclusion based on the evidence that we have available.

Examples of Inference: A character has a diaper in her hand, spit-up on her shirt, and a bottle warming on the counter. You can infer that this character is a mother.

An inference is the process of drawing a conclusion from supporting evidence.

It's when you go beyond the evidence and reach some further conclusion. We draw inferences all the time when we say things like: “I don't see Anne. She said she was tired, so she must have gone home to bed.”

Inferences are basically a 'best guess' that are made based on information that we have gained through study or experience.

Multiple Choice

An inference is a...

• the same as a 'stereotype'.

  
  

  For example, that guy dresses like he is a gangsta, therefore he most CERTAINLY is a gangsta.

• conclusion or educated guess drawn from observations as well as previous knowledge.

• different from an outference, where observations are gathered from an educated guess.

Inferences in Science

Have humans ever landed on the Sun?

Then, how can scientists propose what the Sun is made of?

The distance from the surface of the Earth to the center of the Earth is around 4,000 miles.

-The deepest drill is around 14 miles.

-The deepest mine is around 8 miles.

So, how can scientists propose what is inside of the Earth if we can barely scratch the surface?

Scientists take the information that they gather from ACTUAL experiments that they can run in a labarotory and apply it to trying to understand something they can not directly experiment on. This is a SCIENTIFIC INFERENCE.

For example; Earthquakes are a vibration. Scientists study vibrations and waves in a laboratory and then take this information and apply it to what they observe from Earthquake vibrations.

Multiple Choice

Humans have never landed on the Sun.

Humans have never dug 4,000 miles to the center of the Earth's core.

Yet, scientists have put forth their best guess based on data gathered from ACTUAL laboratory experiments.

Which of the following best describes the above?

• qualitative observation

• quantitative observation

• scientific inference

Multiple Choice

The ice cream was real real yummy!

Which of the following is this an example of?

• scientific inference

• quantitative observation

• qualitative observation

Multiple Choice

The bowling ball weighed exactly 9 pounds.

Which of the following is this an example of?

• scientific inference

• qualitative observation

• quantitative observation

Multiple Choice

Earth has active volcanism, earthquakes and hot springs.

The Moon does not have active volcanism, earthquakes and hot springs.

CONCLUSION: The interior of the Earth must be HOT and the interior of the Moon must be COLD.

Which of the following best describes the CONCLUSION:

• scientific inference

• quantitative observation

• qualitative observation