Observations

We are constantly processing information about the environment we live in through our senses. Vision is one of the most powerful tools in analysis, and helps us understand why and how things happen.

In science, //**observations**// are at the core of how we analyze and interpret information. There are two basic types of observations.


 * //**Qualitative observation**// is using visual contexts such as size, color, state (solid, liquid, gas), or changes in such contexts.
 * **//Quantitative observation//** is essentially measurement. This requires tools such as a ruler, scale, or container, and the output is a measurement such as mass, dimension, or volume.

For a simple example, look at a clock. Its shape is a qualitative observation; the time it tells is a quantitative observation.


 * Question:** provide some qualitative and some quantitative observations for the following images.



__**Direct vs. Indirect Observation**__

When you make an observation, such as the color of a book (qualitative), or how many pages it has (quantitative), you are making a //direct// observation. When you do laboratory experiments, you are performing //direct// observations.

But sometimes, you may need to refer to other peoples' work to get the information you need. For example, you may need to know the density of the wood fiber used to make the book. Or you may need to look up the process by which the book was printed. These are considered //indirect observations// - using information someone else has already collected.

Another example of an indirect observation is when you see the //effect// of something occurring. For example, if you were to light a piece of paper on fire, you would observe the effect of combustion (a direct observation) in the form of heat and light. However, you cannot actually see combustion occurring at the molecular level, where the chemical changes are occurring. you assume this is happening, and therefore are making an indirect observation of that event.

To keep it simple, if you can see it or watch it happen, you are making a direct observation.


 * Question:** identify the following images as either direct or indirect observations.