Question by love*pink: What is the difference between an observation and an interpretation?
Can you explain it in 11th grade terms without using examples?

Best answer:

Answer by Alyssa
An observation is something that is seen/smelt/heard directly (anything involving the senses). You do not form any conclusions or hypotheses on why it what it is happening, you are only observing it.

An interpretation (or an inference) is when you make your best guess based on the information given as to why your observation is occuring.

With examples (just so it is clear, even though you don’t want them): When you put a powder into a liquid and stir, you OBSERVE that the solid has disappeared, and your INTERPRETATION is that the solid has dissolved in the liquid.

Hope that helped!

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!