Observations and Inferences

Quantitative data is counted or measured.

Which of these is Quantitative?

• It is warm outside

• Winter is far away

• There are 24 students

• Biology is easy

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-1

An inference is an assumption based on direct observations and background information.

Which of these is an inference for a barking dog? SELECT ONE ANSWER!

• The dog wants to go outside.

• The dog sees a mailman or stranger.

• The dog is hungry.

• All of these are logical inferences.

Qualitative observations are made using your senses (sight, hearing, tough, smell, taste).

Which of these examples is a qualitative observation?

• It is nine o'clock in the morning

• The slug is dark green and slimy

• It is 68 degrees outside

• The baby is six months old and already has two teeth

If you are measuring length with a ruler, your data will be __.

• qualitative

• quantitative

• inference

• opinion

You are outside in the courtyard of the school. You notice that the day feels warm, the flowers smell pretty, and the birds are singing.

You are making __ observations.

• inference

• quantitative

• qualitative

Oh no, the baby is crying. You wonder why and guess that the baby needs their diaper to be changed. You just made __.

• a quantitative description

• an inference

• a qualitative observation

The cat looks mad. He must be hangry.

• Observation

• Inference

Qualitative or Quantitative?

There is 300 mL of liquid in this beaker.

• Qualitative Observation

• Quantitative Observation

Qualitative or Quantitative?

The sand feels rough. The day is very hot. The camels smell funny.

• Qualitative Observations

• Quantitative Observations

What is an inference about this picture?

• The lady has a remote job that she can do from home.

• This lady has her hair in a bun.

• There is one laptop and two notebooks.

• Laptops are better than desktop computers.