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Concept
Observation
Summary
Observation is a phenomenal instance of noticing or perceiving in the natural sciences and the acquisition of information from a primary source. In living beings, observation employs the senses. In science, observation can also involve the perception and recording of data via the use of scientific instruments. The term may also refer to any data collected during the scientific activity. Observations can be qualitative, that is, only the absence or presence of a property is noted, or quantitative if a numerical value is attached to the observed phenomenon by counting or measuring.
The scientific method requires observations of natural phenomena to formulate and test hypotheses. It consists of the following steps:
Ask a question about a natural phenomenon
Make observations of the phenomenon
Formulate a hypothesis that tentatively answers the question
Predict logical, observable consequences of the hypothesis that have not yet been investigated
Test the hypothesis' predictions by an experiment, observational study, field study, or simulation
Draw a conclusion from data gathered in the experiment, or revise the hypothesis or form a new one and repeat the process
Write a descriptive method of observation and the results or conclusions reached
Have peers with experience researching the same phenomenon evaluate the results
Observations play a role in the second and fifth steps of the scientific method. However, the need for reproducibility requires that observations by different observers can be comparable. Human sense impressions are subjective and qualitative, making them difficult to record or compare. The use of measurement was developed to allow recording and comparison of observations made at different times and places, by different people. The measurement consists of using observation to compare the phenomenon being observed to a standard unit. The standard unit can be an artifact, process, or definition which can be duplicated or shared by all observers. In measurement, the number of standard units which is equal to the observation is counted.
Official source
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