<p> Name: Date: Period: Qualitative vs. Quantitative Data Observations</p><p>Introduction: Every day of your life you are involved with making decisions: we observe a situation, collect information, interpret that information and reach a conclusion. The conclusion is only as effective as our observations and interpretations are accurate. Whether you plan a career in science or not you will be faced with this problem. In this exercise we will practice making observations and categorize them as to the type of observations---they may be either "qualitative" or "quantitative." In later experiments you will be practicing interpretation of data and arriving at conclusions. </p><p>Procedure:</p><p>A. Learn the difference between quantitative and qualitative observations by studying the following definitions and then applying them.</p><p>QUANTITATIVE observations must be based on some sort of measurement. They must not include any judgments of cause and effect that are not measurable. Please note the following example: Jane Ann Doe: Is 5'2" tall Weighs 300 lbs. Has 10 fingers, 8 toes Has 99 freckles QUALITATIVE observations can be based on sense impressions and may include judgments that are not measured. Statements of color and touch sensations are relative to the individual and may be permitted in qualitative observations but not in quantitative. Please observe the following example: John Doe: Has brown hair Has dark skin Is running around in circles Has darker brown spots on face (freckles?) B. Problem: Place and "X" in front of the quantitative observations and an "O" in front of qualitative observations.</p><p>A biologist observed a flower she had picked from a plant. She wrote down the following: _____1. The whole flower weighs 2 grams _____2. The flower is white _____3. The stem of the flower is slightly curved _____4. The petals are very flexible _____5. The stem of the flower is 5.4 inches long _____6. The flower has the same smell as rotten flesh _____7. There are 3 leaves on the stem _____8. The flower part is 4.4 inches across _____9. There are 6 petals on the flower part _____10. After 2 hours, the white flower looked brownish</p><p>-OVER- Problem: Another biologist observed a goldfish in an aquarium. He wrote down the following observations. Again as "X" and "O". ____1. Fish is orange in color ____2. When undisturbed, the fish swims very slowly ____3. The goldfish is 5 inches long from nose to tail ____4. The water in the aquarium is 20 degrees C ____5. When a stirring rod is put into the aquarium close to the fish, it swims Rapidly away ____6. The fish has three fins besides its tail fin ____7. The fish's gills move in and out constantly ____8. In one minute the fish opened and closed its mouth 43 times ____9. The fish rose to the surface of the water twice in 4 minutes ____10. The fish's body is covered with scales</p><p>C. Application: Select any organism of your choosing and list 10 quantitative and 10 qualitative observations.</p><p>Quantitative: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.</p><p>Qualitative: </p><p>1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.</p>