" There is more to life than the everyday experience of our senses "
To understand our world we use our senses, yet it's not the complete picture of our world. In this activity, we explore Observation and Inference.
When does Observation happen?
Observation is an accumulation of information when we use our senses: See, Touch, Hear, Smell, Listen. We call it Qualitative Observation.
There is also Quantitative Observation?
The observation of Quantity or Numbers and Measurements.
Look at this Picture, What do you observe?
Task: Write down what you Observe on a piece of paper, we will discuss it in a while.
Look at this Second Picture, What do you observe?
Task: Write down what you Observe on a piece of paper, we will discuss it in a while.
" Observation is a wonder, where careless claims create disasters "
What is Inference?
The inference is making a guess or prediction based on what you observe. The inference is not a Conclusion. Inference needs Data or Evidence to back any Inference or Claim.
Example of Inference:
Observation & Inference game:
Again, write down your Observation and Inference in the scene?
Observation: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Inference: (Make as many inferences as possible)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Remember: Inference is not a conclusion. For Conclusion evidence or data or witness to an event is a must.
QUIZ:
Looking at the picture of the goat by the water to determine if the following statements are observations, or if the statements are inferences. Place an “Inf” in the blank for inference and an “Obs” in the blank for observation.
________ 1. The kid is in the water.
________ 2. The weather is cold.
________ 3. The tree branch is broken.
________ 4. If the kid crawled out of the water, the goat would push him/her.
________ 5. The kid fell off the branch.
________ 6. The goat is standing by the pond.
________ 7. The branch will fall on the kid’s head.
________ 8. The kid fell off the rocks.
________ 9. There is a sailboat in the water.
________ 10. The sailboat belongs to the kid.
________ 11. The goat will soon leave the pond.
________ 12. The tree by the pond has no leaves.
________ 13. There are three rocks in the pond.
________ 14. The tree by the pond is dead.
________ 15. If it rains, leaves will grow on the tree.
________ 16. The goat pushed the kid into the pond.
Answers are in the attached file named " Obv ", Kindly, only see it in the End.
Look at these 2 pictures and try to come up with 10 inferences using your imagination?
Remember: Inference is not a conclusion. For Conclusion evidence or data or witness to an event is a must.
Picture 1:
Picture2:
Home Activity:
For one week make a note about your Observations & Inferences and where you incorrectly marked inference as observation.
Repeat the same by observing 2 members of your family and note down the results.
Extras:
Can you think of how to confirm your Inference or validate it with evidence?
Tips: The Scientific Method of Objective Observation
