#Observation vs inference professional#

Because they are subjective explanations. They are often based on past experiences with similar situations. They should make an inference about what happened between the animals.ĥ) Talk about what they observed and what they think might have happened (infered). Inferences are explanations for those observations. They need to decide which direction each animal was going. As opposed to inference, logically deducing a conclusion by reasoning.

Observation implies attentive monitoring of the subject under study. Unlike inference, which relies on the facts that are already known. Observation is based on hands-on experience. On the other hand, the inference is an explanation or assumption of what one has perceived or seen. Observation is what one perceives or notices. (Or any variation of this with which to test their powers of observation.)Ĥ) Break students into teams of 3-4. Observation is objective while inference is subjective. The bobcat and hare tracks should come from different directions, then intersect and end with only bobcat tracks remaining. Read each statement and decide whether it is an observation or an inference. Make sure you copy enough tracks to make a trail the kids can follow. Secure them to the ground with the roofing nails so they won’t blow away (the nails can be collected afterward and used again) or tape for an indoor activity. That discussion then leads into the meaning of an observation and takes us into a conversation about the five senses and how they help us to gather information. After you make observations, discuss what you observed to see if you are.

While observation is careful watching of things. box of 2 inch roofing nails (or tape for indoors version)ġ) Copy enough tracks to make a track pattern of about 20 sets of tracks.ģ) Using the track pattern sheets as a guide, lay a track pattern with the bobcat and snowshoe hare tracks in the grass in your schoolyard or any open area. Observation & Inference Working with a partner, list the observations you can make. While Observation can be said to be a factual description, inference is an explanation to thecollected data.Students will observe animal tracks, study the track pattern and make an inference about what might have happened.

#Observation vs inference professional#

An inference is a conclusion reached based on evidence and reasoning. Consider the following situation: Upon reading about the transgressions of a politician or professional athlete, we. An observation is a description of something seen, heard or witnessed directly.