Observation vs. Inference
Quantitative and Qualitative Observations
Variables
Quantitative and Qualitative Observations 2
Observations vs. Inferences 2
100

You come into the classroom and you observe someone's books are at your desk. Based on this, you think that someone is sitting at your desk. What scientific skill did you just use?

What is an inference?

100
This is an observation you can count.
What is a quantitative observation?
100
This is the only thing that the scientist changes in an experiment.
What is an independent variable?
100

Determine if the statement is a qualitative or quantitative observation: 1. This classroom has 16 tables. 2. Our school has red and blue lockers.

1. Quantitative

2. Qualitative

100
Suppose your friends went to the beach at noon on a warm day, and they saw some black and white birds. Determine if the following statements are observations or inferences: 1. It was a warm day.
What is an observation?
200

You use your 5 senses for this scientific skill.

What is a qualitative observation?

200
This is an observation you cannot count, but that describes the quality of an object/thing.
What is a qualitative observation?
200
This is the thing that the scientist measures in an experiment.
What is a dependent variable?
200

Determine if the statement is a qualitative or quantitative observation: 1. The race was over in 10 minutes. 2. It is light green in color.

What is a quantitative and qualitative observation?

200
Suppose your friends went to the beach at noon on a warm day, and they saw some black and white birds. Determine if the following statements are observations or inferences: 1. The birds were black and white.
What is an observation?
300

Suppose your friends went to the beach at noon on a warm day, and they saw some black and white birds. Determine if the following statements are observations or inferences: 1. It is summertime.

What is an inference?

300
Determine if the statement is a qualitative or quantitative observation: The cup had a mass of 454 grams.
What is a quantitative observation?
300
This is what the scientist keeps the same in an experiment. There are many of these.
What is a control variable?
300
Determine if the statement is a qualitative or quantitative observation: 1. It tastes sour. 2. One leaf is 9 cm long. 3. It makes a loud pop sound.
What is a qualitative, quantitative, and qualitative observation?
300
Suppose your friends went to the beach at noon on a warm day, and they saw some black and white birds. Determine if the following statements are observations or inferences: 1. They ate lunch and drank Coke. 2. The people are friends.
What is an inference and observation?
400

Suppose your friends went to the beach at noon on a warm day, and they saw some black and white birds. Determine if the following statements are observations or inferences: 1. It is daytime. 2. They saw birds.

What is an observation and observation

400

Determine if the statements are qualitative or quantitative observations: 1. It is warm outside. 2. The temperature outside is 250 degrees Celsius. 3. the tree is 30 feet tall.

What is a qualitative, quantitative, and quantitative observation?

400
Rachel counted the leaves on each of three plants. Then she put one plant under a blue light bulb, another plant under a yellow light bulb, and a third plant under a while light bulb. She kept all three lights on from 6 am to 9 pm. After 2 months, she counted how many leaves each plant had. What is the independent variable in this experiment?
What is the color of the light bulb?
400
Determine if the statement is a qualitative or quantitative observation: 1. The mass of the computer is 1.5 kg. 2. It smells sweet. 3. The temperature of the room increases by 8 degrees Celsius. 4. It gets darker over a period of time.
What is a quantitative, qualitative, quantitative, and qualitative observation?
400
Suppose your friends went to the beach at noon on a warm day, and they saw some black and white birds. Determine if the following statements are observations or inferences: 1. The friends will go home together. 2. They will feed the birds. 3. The beach will be crowded.
What is an inference, inference, and inference?
500

Suppose your friends went to the beach at noon on a warm day, and they saw some black and white birds. Determine if the following statements are observations or inferences: 1. They saw seagulls. 2. They went swimming. 3. One friend's name was Bob.

What is an observation, inference, and inference?

500

Determine if the statement is a qualitative or quantitative observation: 1. The building has 25 stories. 2. The building is taller than the tree. 3. The sidewalk is long. 4. The sidewalk is 100 meters long. 5. The race was over quickly.

What is a quantitative, qualitative, qualitative, quantitative, and qualitative observation?

500
Rachel counted the leaves on each of three plants. Then she put one plant under a blue light bulb, another plant under a yellow light bulb, and a third plant under a while light bulb. She kept all three lights on from 6 am to 9 pm. After 2 months, she counted how many leaves each plant had. What is the dependent variable in this experiment?
What is the number of leaves each plant has?
500
Determine if the statement is a qualitative or quantitative observation: 1. The flower clusters in 3 blooms. 2. It feels very rough. 3. The plant is short. 4. The leaves are stiff. 5. The veins are 3 mm wide.
What is a quantitative, qualitative, qualitative, qualitative, and quantitative observation?
500

Define observation and inference.

What is something that you notice? What is a conclusion reached based on evidence and logic?

M
e
n
u