Looking closely
A dog barks at the gate. Is someone there?
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The idea
We only heard a bark. So "someone is there" is a guess.
An observation is what your senses tell you right now. You see it, hear it, feel it or smell it.
An inference is a guess made from an observation. You did not sense it yourself.
| Observation (sensed) | Inference (guessed) |
|---|---|
| Grey clouds fill the sky. | It will rain soon. |
| Steam leaves the tiffin box. | The food is hot. |
| The dog is barking. | Someone is at the gate. |
Scientists check each guess with a new observation.