Observation, Inferences, and Options

An observation is paying attention to your surroundings and recording what is seen. An inference is a conclusion reached by evidence and reasoning. An opinion is a personal view or judgment, not necessarily based on facts and knowledge.

In the fish tank, there is a school of five fish swimming throughout the tank. Three of the fish are a white and deep green color, while the other two fish are an orange and white color. An inference of the aquarium is that the plants in the tank release oxygen into the water for the fish to breathe. The fish seem content with their living situation due to the fact that they have enough plants to provide a significant amount of oxygen, the environment has enough decoration to swim around in, and they have each other for company.

A good observation starts with an initial hypothesis. After coming up with a hypothesis, concisely write down everything you see from changes in appearances, masses or percent yield, and things that go wrong. A good observation is important because it explains what happens, allowing the hypothesis to be answered. Without an observation, a scientific conclusion cannot be found.

Inferences and options have a place in science due to the fact that they are the bases to questions and hypothesis in science. Without having opinions on the outside world, questions like Sir Isaac Newton’s on gravity would never had been answered. Inferences give backing to opinions, like the apple falling from the tree in Newton’s experiment.