Observations & Inferences

Using any of your 5 senses to describe the world around you.

• Observation

• Inference

• Prediction

• Logical Theory

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-8

What is an inference? 

• Just a random guess
• A prediction or logical conclusions about our observations
• The same as an observation
• deciding if an observation is qualitative or quantitative

Observation or Inference: I notice the tree by the pond has no leaves on it.

• Observation

• Inference

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

Which two of these can be observations about a gorilla?

• The gorilla wants a bigger banana.

• The gorilla has 5 fingers on his right hand.

• The gorilla is hungry.

• The gorilla has dark brown hair.

The cat looks mad. He must be hangry.

• Observation

• Inference

A scientist discovers the body of an unknown species of frog in the rain forest of Brazil.  She writes several statements in her journal about the animal shown above.  Which of the following is an observation about the frog?

• The frog might be poisonous because it is very brightly colored.
• It has a mass of 22.4 grams.
• The frog is probably a tree climber because it has large, round toe pads.
• I think the frog is a species of poison dart frog because of its size and color.

A student placed 50 mealworms in the middle of an aquarium containing a light, a cardboard tube and a water dish.  He waited five minutes and then recorded the data for the first trial in the table above.  The student repeated this procedure two more times, and recorded the results.  Read the results of all three trials.  Which inference could you make about mealworms based on the results.

• The mealworms probably prefer the darkness of a cardboard tube.
• There were 6 mealworms under the light in trial 2. 
• Mealworms love water. 
• There were 36 more mealworms in the cardboard tube versus the light in trial 3.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Scenario: you walk into the science classroom and see an unfamiliar adult at the front of the room. You also see that Mrs Waterhouse is not in the room. You wonder where she could be. Which of these is an inference?

• You walk into science.
• You see an unfamiliar adult.
• You do not see Mrs. Waterhouse

• "Maybe she's home sick today" 

Observations like the color or texture of an object are ________________ observations.

• quantitative
• qualitative
• operational
• scientific

Observations like measurements are ____________ observations

• quantitiative
• qualitative
• operational
• scientific