Observations and Inferences Draft

Observations are based upon using the five senses to pay close attention to something and gain information from. They are experienced first hand, and help to reach an inference. An inference is the logical explanation of the observation, or the conclusion drawn based on evidence and can be a second hand experience. An instance of using the two is in the scenario with the spike worms and silk worms we received on the first day of this class. When given the small plastic cups, the first thing we did was observe the mysterious object handed to us. We used our senses to see that the object was small and tan in color. We watched the object rear up on its tiny stubby legs and make its way around the edges of the cup. We noticed that one side of the object’s body was slightly darker than the rest of the body. There were several other factors about the object that visually we could observe. Had we physically touched the object’s body or smelled it or listened to it, we may have had further observations. Using these specific observations we then began to make conclusions. The big brown eyes on the darker end of the body have the visible characteristics of eyes, so we can infer that they are eyes. The object is moving independently and has the characteristics likewise to a worm, therefore we can make the inference based on appearance that the object is a living organism that is or related to a worm. Eventually using external resources online and comparing our observations of the object we could conclude that it was a spike worm. I have now been keeping the worm and carefully observing it for multiple weeks now. I have observed that the worm now has ceased its movement and grown a brown, harder exterior covering the entire body. It appears to be a cocoon, and because I have knowledge that worms can alter their body composition into moths or flies, I can infer that because my worm is in a cocoon now, it is undergoing metamorphosis and will transform into either a moth or fly. I am able to make an inference based upon primary observation and also secondary knowledge.