Inference vs Observation What is the difference Turn

Inference vs. Observation

What is the difference? • Turn and talk to your neighbor and using • your sticky notes, write how you and your partner would define an INFERENCE and an OBSERVATION. Decide who will be the recorder (write on the sticky notes) and who will be the reporter. (will place the sticky note on the board and report to the group)

How did you do? Let’s start with Observation • An observation is made by gathering information using our 5 senses. 42 • There are 2 types of observations 7 • Qualitative observations DO NOT--> include numbers • Quantitative observations DO--> include numbers. 3 279

Qualitative and Quantitative Observations • Read the following examples and then • • • decide if each is either Qualitative (QL) or Quantitative (QNT): 1. The candy was sour. 2. The slug was slimy. 3. The bug was 5 cm long. 4. The flower is red. 5. The mass of the beaker was 122 g. 6. She is 150 cm tall.

What is an inference? • An inference is an educated guess based on an observation you made. • Inferences are based on past experiences and prior knowledge. • Inferences are logical; in other words, it must make sense based on your observations.

When will I make inferences? • In science class - The liquid in the beaker on the hot plate is starting to bubble. The water is boiling. • When reading (English/Lit. L. A. class) – “…the fish was floating on top of the water…” The fish is dead. • In our everyday lives – While walking to the bus stop this morning, I noticed puddles in the street. It rained while I was sleeping.

Everyday Life…

Science…

Reading… “The two men appeared out of nowhere, a few yards apart in the narrow, moonlit lane. For a second they stood quite still, wands pointing at each other's chests: then, recognizing each other, they stowed their wands beneath their cloaks and set off, side by side, in the same direction…” Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows First lines from opening chapter, The Dark Lord Ascending.

Challenge: Can you tell the difference between your observations & the inferences you make? With your partner, document on your note card 2 or more observations and 2 or more inferences per picture.

So, what is the difference between an observation and an inference? Turn and talk…

OBSERVATIONS are based on the information you gather from your senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch) An INFERENCE is an educated guess based on your observations. It is LOGICAL…It is based on your prior knowledge (stuff you already know) and allows you to predict what the observation means.

Don’t you just love science?