Observation: The First Step in the Scientific Method
To observe means to look at something and to notice the details. When people observe things, they often wonder why it is that way.
Scientists try to answer that question. They make observations as the first step to the scientific method.
Observations are also called data. There are two kinds of data.
- Qualitative data which are descriptions that do not have numbers.
- Quantitative data are obtained by measuring and have numbers. Scientists use instruments (tools) to obtain numbers based data.Examples: It is cold with a brisk wind is an example of qualitative data.
It is 4° Celsius with a Northeast wind at 20 miles per hour is an example of observations with quantitative data .Practice observing by examining at this photo of a snow covered creek in Central Pennsylvania.
North West
South East
Click here for a closer view. Use the Back Button of your browser to return to this webpage.
1. Write your observations - one per line - on a piece of paper.
Make as many observations as you can.
2. Imagine - If you were standing in the scene:
What tools (instruments) would help you to be a better observer?
What tools (instruments) might you use to measure what you are observing?
3. Write at least two hypothesis about what you have observed.
"Swallows certainly sleep all winter. A number of them conglobulate together, by flying round and round, and then all in a heap throw themselves under water, and lye in the bed of a river." Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) b. Lichfield, England
Observation skills: Bush | Nest | Larvae | Sky | Line | Hole | Pool | Rock | Water
Milkweed and Monarch Butterfly Mania Journal Entry | Winter's Story - NASA | Bluebirds Project | Animal Tracks
Words from Illustrations and Art | Winter Song Photo Story
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FAQ Posted by Cynthia J. O'Hora 9/2007, released for noncommercial use by nonprofit organizations
Aligned with Pennsylvania Academic Standards | Rubric Template at Bernie Dodge site
Save a tree use a digital answer format - Highlight the text. Copy it. Paste it in a word processing document. Save the document in your folder. Answer on the wp document in an easily read, contrasting color or font. (Not yellow ) nor fancy fonts like Symbols, Techno, 
fancy fonts) Make your own printer paper answer sheet Proof read your responses. It is funny how speling errors and typeos sneak in to the bets work. 