Observation vs Inference: Key Concepts and Applications

The video tutorial introduces eighth graders to two essential scientific skills: making observations and making inferences. It explains the difference between qualitative and quantitative observations, emphasizing the use of the five senses. The tutorial also discusses how inferences are explanations based on observations and prior knowledge, using examples to illustrate how they can change with new data.

Which of the following is NOT one of the five senses mentioned for making observations?

• Sight

• Smell

• Balance

• Hearing

Which sense is NOT used for making observations?

• Intuition

• Sight

• Touch

• Taste

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.6.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

What type of data is described when noting the color or texture of an object?

• Qualitative data

• Numerical data

• Inferential data

• Quantitative data

What does qualitative data focus on?

• Experiments and results

• Numbers and measurements

• Descriptions and qualities

• Hypotheses and theories

Which example illustrates quantitative data?

• Miss Meredith has two eyes

• The lab coat is white

• The desk feels cold

• Observing a sweet smell

Which type of observation involves counting or measuring?

• Qualitative

• Quantitative

• Descriptive

• Inferential

What is the main difference between qualitative and quantitative observations?

• Qualitative is numerical, quantitative is descriptive

• Qualitative is descriptive, quantitative is numerical

• Qualitative uses senses, quantitative uses instruments

• Qualitative is theoretical, quantitative is practical

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.7

CCSS.RI.8.7

CCSS.RL.6.7

CCSS.RL.7.7

CCSS.RL.8.7

Which scenario is an example of using quantitative data?

• Feeling the texture of sand

• Describing the smoothness of a rock

• Counting the number of leaves on a plant

• Saying the sky is blue

Which of the following is an example of an inference?

• It might have rained if the grass is wet

• The grass is green

• The temperature is 22 degrees Celsius

• There are 20 students in the class

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.1

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.6.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

What can change an inference?

• A change in theory

• Different experiments

• A new hypothesis

• New observations

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.1

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.8.1