This document contains class notes on observations and inferences: - Observations involve using the senses to gather factual information without numbers (qualitative) or with measurements (quantitative). - Inferences are logical interpretations based on observations, prior knowledge, and experience that go beyond what is directly observed. - Students are instructed to record observations as data and write inferences in conclusions when reporting findings from labs or experiments.

1. Class Notes
A test of your observation skills…
Copy only what is in PINK.

2. Observations:
 Use senses to gather information
 Note and record facts
 Qualitative – no number
 e.g.: loud sound; fast horse; red car
 Quantitative – has a number
 Involve measurements
 e.g.: sound is 120 decibels; horse runs 31 mi/hr
 e.g.: Josh is 180 cm tall; the candy bar has 25g of
sugar in it; my soda bottle holds 1 L.

3. Inference:
 Logical interpretation based upon
observations, prior knowledge,
experience
 e.g.: If you came here and found
another adult in the front of the
room, you would probably infer that
you have a substitute teacher for the
day.

4.  e.g.: The screen door is broken
(observation)
 The dog got out (inference)

5.  You see a student leaving the cafeteria
with a wet spot on his shirt.
 Inference - ?
 You see that the soccer team is leaving
the field and everyone is scowling.
 You observe a dead deer on the side of
the highway.
 You notice a traffic signal sitting in the
middle of the intersection.
 You observe your little brother crying.
 You smell something dead on the shore.

6. Note the Difference!
• Record observations (not
inferences) as DATA.
• Write inferences in the conclusion
of your lab report.

7. • Let’s test your observation skills…

8. Take a good look at this picture

9. Question 1
Are there cars parked on both sides of the
road?

10. Question 2
What color is the pickup truck that is driving
down the road?

11. Question 3
Are any minivans present?

12. Question 4
What is written on the blue sign?

13. Question 5
What is the speed limit on this road?

14. Question 6
Are there any pedestrians on the sidewalks?

16. Answers
1. Yes
2. Blue
3. Yes
4. Yard Sale
5. 35 mph
6. No

18. Observation vs. Inference
• On the next slide, state whether the
statement is an observation or an
inference.

19. 1. There is a representation of a face on one side
of the coin.
2. The Latin word "Dei" means "God."
3. The coin was made by religious people.
4. The date 1722 is printed on one side of the coin.
5. The coin was made in 1722.
6. The face on the coin is a representation of the
nation's president.

20. How many legs does the elephant
have?

21. What do you see?

22. Who is in this picture?
• Do you see former President Bill Clinton and Al Gore?
• Actually, it’s Clinton’s face twice with 2 different hair
cuts!

23. What do you see?
Hint:
There are
3 images.
1. An old lady
2. A young
woman
3. A man with
a big
brown
mustache

24. Take a very close look at the 2 vertical lines.
Is one line is longer than the other?
They are the SAME length!

25. Compare this picture to the next
one…

26. What’s the difference?

27. What do you see?

28. Can you build these shelves?

29. Does the square have
curved sides?

30. Read this sign

31. What do you see?

32. Can you stack these blocks?

33. What animal do you perceive?
A Duck, Bunny, or BOTH?

34. This image contains a
picture and a word.
Do you see both of
them?

36. From where are those dots
coming?!
Your
brain!

37. Look at the chart and say the color,
NOT the word
Your right brain tried to say the color,
but your left brain was reading the word.

38. Read across..

39. What images do you see?

40. Can you pick the tallest soldier?
They are all the same height!

41. What do you see?
The Landscape of Faces

42. Do you see the face on Earth?
How about now?

43. These circles are not moving, your brain is
making them appear to move. Try focusing
on one circle. It will stop moving.

44. Are these dots moving?

45. Does this image appear to be
moving?
• It’s NOT!
• Just kidding, this one
is actually moving

46. Can you make an incorrect
inference from an observation?
• A scientist was interested in studying how
far bullfrogs can jump.
• He brought a bullfrog into his lab, set it
down, and commanded the frog to jump.
• The frog jumped across the room.
• The scientist measured the distance, then
noted in his journal, “frog with four legs:
jumped 3 meters.”

47. • Then he cut the frog’s front legs off.
• Again he commanded the frog to jump.
• The frog struggled a moment, then jumped
a few feet.
• The scientist measured the distance, then
noted in his journal, “frog with two legs:
jumped 1 meter.”

48. • Next, the scientist cut the frog’s back legs
off.
• Again he commanded the frog to jump.
• The frog just lay there.
• “Jump. Frog, jump!” the scientist repeated.
• Nothing.
• The scientist noted in his journal, “frog with
no legs: lost its hearing.”