Worksheet: Qualitative vs. Quantitative Observations w8.SILN.1 CMT Correlation: CINQ.3 — Design and conduct appropriate types of scientific investigations to answer different questions.

Introduction:

One of the most important skills of any scientist is their ability to observe, record, and communicate recorded observations and data. Scientists such as Galileo Galilee, Anton Van Leeuwenhoek and Charles Darwin were excellent record keepers. Their recorded observations were key factors in their historical contributions to “natural philosophy”. (For centuries scientists were called natural philosophers. The term scientist was not introduced until the later part of the 1800’s.) Observations fall into two basic categories — qualitative observations and quantitative observations. Qualitative observations are observations that describe “qualities” of something. These would include characteristics such as texture, color, shape, and do not involve counting or measuring. Quantitative observations involve counting or measuring using standard scales. This would include such things as mass, volume, time, temperature, frequency of occurrence, etc. Complete the stems on the left Directions: In each of the following scenarios, identify if qualitative or quantitative observations were, or need to be, recorded. Place the letter A for qualitative observations and the letter B for quantitative observations in the boxes provided on the left side of this worksheet.

1. While walking down the street Tom and Jerry noticed a strange insect on a tree. They just happened to be carrying their official “Salt Marsh Jim / Bluff Point Bob” Science Explorer Backpacks, so they proceeded to take out their notebooks and draw sketches of the insect so the drawings can be displayed at the next meeting of the secret Science Explorer Society.

(Finish the stem.)

A qualitative observation _______________________

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(Finish the stem.)

A quantitative observation _____________________

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“Shhhh…the

meeting is tonight.”

Leeuwenhoek?

2. Danielle and Heather were in science class when they volunteered to fill the fish tank in the back of the room using a long hose connected to the sink. Mr. B told them to fill the tank almost to the top, and to be sure not to overflow the tank. Danielle and Heather wanted to know how much water the tank could hold so they recorded the length, width, and height of the tank in centimeters. Next, they determined the total volume of the tank using the formula; length x width x height. (Mr. B did not notice any spillage of water on the floor, but just before he went home he wondered why there were several very wet bath towels on the floor next to the tank.)

3. Jack and Jill were walking down the beach, during the fall, just

after a storm had passed. They began to collect blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) that had washed-up on shore. Because they were members of the secret Science Explorer Society they counted how many mussels they had collected so they could report their findings at the next meeting.

4. At the October meeting of the secret Science Explorer Society the

members decided to measure (in centimeters) the length of each of the mussels that Jack and Jill had collected, from the anterior end to the posterior end, and then determine the average length of the mussel shells.

5. Mutt and Jeff were exploring the forest next to their neighborhood.

They found some odd-looking pine cones under a very large conifer tree. (Members of the secret Science Explorer Society know what conifer trees are!) They noted a counter-clock wise twirl to the cones. They also recorded color variations extending from the top of the cones to the bottom of the cones.

Complete the stem on the left.

(Finish the stem.)

Your task is to explain to a 5th grade student the difference between qualitative and quantitative observation without actually using the two terms. There are two types of observations _________

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