Observations and Inferences PP4

Observations are based upon the attention and gained information from something using the five senses. 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 the evidence. It 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 we were visually able to observe. Had we physically touched the object’s body or utilized our keen sense of smell and hearing, we may have had further observations. Using these specific observations we then began to make conclusions. The big brown eyes on the darker, posterior end of the body had the visible characteristics of eyes, so using this observation and our knowledge of eyes, we could infer that they were eyes. The object was moving independently and displayed characteristics similar to a worm (the body is shaped long and has many legs), therefore we could make the inference that the object is a living organism that is or is related to a worm. Eventually using external resources online and comparing our observations of the object to real photos of worms, 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, hard exterior around 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.