Difference Between Observation and Conclusion

Observation vs Conclusion

For many scientists and science buffs, an observation and a conclusion are both essential elements of doing experimental activities to determine whether a hypothesis is true or not. But since they are very similar in nature, many people tend to get confused when using them.

It’s common to hear people say “It’s my observation that kids today prefer staying indoors rather than play outside.” For most of us there is nothing wrong with this statement which, of course, is not entirely true. The speaker in this case is stating with finality what he is seeing which is a conclusion rather than an observation. That’s why it’s very important to analyze how each term is correctly defined so that we know when to use which word.

An observation is the action or process of closely monitoring or watching something or someone. In science this is called data gathering. People who do experiments observe what is happening and record each result until they are satisfied that they have covered every angle. A conclusion, on the other hand, refers to the end or final phase of an event. For researchers and scientists, this is the part in which they form a final opinion or verdict based on events they have seen or experienced.

In reality, “observation” and “conclusion” often go hand in hand. It only gets muddled up when they are interchanged which is really nobody’s fault since it’s deemed acceptable by most people. The proper way to identify which is which is to follow standard procedures in an experiment.

For example, if students want to determine the effects of gravity, they’re going to conduct a test using simple materials like a small rock or an apple. They usually throw them in the air and watch what would happen, which is essentially what an observation is. Once the experiment is done, the teacher will ask them to write down what they have observed and to form a verdict or judgment which is also called a conclusion. Therefore, we can safely say that both terms actually complement each other.

“Conclusion” would not be possible without going through the observation phase first, which is logical, since no resolution can be made without verifying facts. “Observation” also requires a conclusion in order to become valid. We can’t say midway of an experiment what the results will be otherwise it’s no longer scientific and factual.

Another difference between “observation” and “conclusion” is the level of certainty in describing each process. For an observation, errors and miscalculations are acceptable since we are only gathering data based on what is shown to us. For a conclusion however, it’s a different story. Before we can come up with one, we need to be certain that all results have been verified and that no mistakes are made.

Summary:

1.“Observation” and “conclusion” are both parts of the standard experimental procedures.
2.“Observation” is the process of watching or monitoring an event or somebody while “conclusion” refers to the final part of the experiment in which a verdict or resolution is made.
3.“Observation” and “conclusion” often go hand in hand.
4.Observations are not final; therefore, it’s okay to make mistakes, but conclusions are final and so errors should be avoided.

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