Name_____________
Observation or Inference?
Learning Target:
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Identify the difference between an observation and an inference.
What is an OBSERVATION?
- a statement describing a fact
- use your senses (see, hear, taste, smell, touch)
- 2 types
1) Quantitative Observation – a factual statement
containing numbers(a measurement, count, etc.)
2) Qualitative Observation – a factual statement
containing descriptions (color, smells, etc.)
What is an INFERENCE?
- a mental judgement based on observations.
* based on the interpretation of facts
- usually an opinion
Place a “DO” on the blank if the statement is a descriptive observation, “QO” if the
statement is a quantitative observation, and an “I” if the statement is an inference.
1.________
The temperature at noon today was 83 degrees.
2.________
It is very warm today.
3.________
The price of gasoline is way too high.
4.________
The final exam for this class is difficult.
5.________
The candle weighed 70.35 grams.
6.________
The test tube feels warm.
7.________
The flowers did not grow due to a lack of sunshine.
8.________
Miss Franco has one sister.
9.________
When the two liquids were mixed in the test tube, an odor resulted.
10._______
The students at PR are very accepting of each other.
11._______
Prairie Ridge’s mascot is a wolf.
12._______
There are four high schools in District #155.
13._______
DVR makes television-watching more enjoyable.
14._______
A 2 liter bottle of Coke contains 2000 mL of soda.
15._______
A BMW is an expensive car.
16._______
Miss Franco went to Bradley University.
17._______
Five minutes is not a long enough passing period to get from
one end of this school to another.
18._______
Students are always tired on the first day of school.
19._______
Prairie Ridge High School opened in 1997.
20._______
Most students seem to enjoy biology.
21._______
Cubs fans are more loyal than Sox fans.
22._______
Ninety percent is an “A-” in this course.
23._______
The floor in this room is dirty.
24._______
First hour begins at 7:25 a.m.
25._______
We didn’t receive much rainfall this past summer.
List 3 observations (either quantitative or descriptive) AND 3 inferences about the
cartoon below:
Observations
Inference
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