Ostriches, for example, are birds that cannot fly. This is actually an important part of scientific processes and it is key that you understand the differences between making an observation and an inference clearly so you can attain good scores on the GED exam. Observation — When we can clearly identify things, by using our five senses, we speak of observation.
When we can hear, smell, see, touch, or taste things, we know those things are real. Inference — When we make guesses or assumptions based on evidence from observations or from prior knowledge, we can make inferences.
These are educated guesses or assumptions. Observations are things we can see, hear, and so on. These are factual things not based on assumptions or guesses. We can see, for example, that some animals have four legs while others have, for example, big ears. We can see that some animals have fur or whiskers, while some other animals come with beautiful golden color or are white underneath.
These are all observations. They are factual and are not open to interpretation. If we would state that an animal can hear very well because of its large ears, or can hide well from its prey due to its camouflage, we are assuming that to be so. We are guessing in an educated way. We are inferring, not merely observing! What can we observe and infer here? Be careful not to jump to conclusions about what might have happened here, but you can form multiple hypotheses. Ask :. Does the pattern of footprints indicate changes in speed, direction, or anything else for each creature?
What could the footprints suggest about what the creatures or the landscape looked like, and how they may have interacted, if at all? Finally, we yet more footprints even farther to the right but it's pretty different.
Make additional observations and then as many inferences as you can that you think are reasonable. This project was supported by Science Sandbox, a Simons Foundation initiative dedicated to engaging everyone with the process of science. SciGen Teacher Dashboard. Science Thinking. Models in Science. Designing a Fair Test. Exploring a Hypothesis.
Investigating a Question. Units of Measure. Measuring Up Metric. The Power of Per. Potential and Kinetic Energy. Work and Machines. Power to the People. Making Waves. Waves Traveling the Universe. Life Science. Populations in Balance. Environmental Impact. Traits and Heredity. Natural Selection. The Sensational Single Cell. Cells Teaming Up. Seeing Inside Cells. Small, Smaller, Smallest. Determining Density. Under this method, the investigator does not rely on the respondent for information, i.
Moreover, the information gathered is based on the current events, i. Observation can be structured or unstructured, disguised or undisguised. It can be conducted in a natural or contrived environment. In simple terms, inference means assumption or conclusion drawn rationally on the basis of facts and observations. It is a calculated guess, which relies on the evidence and circumstances.
It is an element of reasoning and thinking, which can be accurate or inaccurate, justified or unjustified, logical or illogical. When the population size is large, it is impractical to study each and every item of the population, and that is why a sample is selected at random, which represents the entire population.
On the basis of the sample so selected, generalisation is made about unknown characteristics of the population. In statistics, inference involves two things i. Besides the differences mentioned above, observation and inferences are interrelated to each other in the sense that observation is what we notice when something takes place while inference is what we deduce on the basis of observations. In this way, the inference is often understood as an interpretation of what is being observed.
I just discovered Key Differences a few moments ago and have become acquainted with a great website! I wish more people would recognize and accept the difference. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Key Differences Between Observation and Inference The difference between observation and inference can be drawn clearly on the following grounds: The act of carefully watching or examining a person or object when something is happening is known as an observation.
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