Difference Between Observation and Conclusion
Table of Contents
Observation and conclusion can tend to be confusing as they both take part in an experiment. The methods of the two processes are different as well as their usages. Not only in an experiment but these two methods also get done by us in our everyday life. We observe things and then shape a conclusion or judgment.
Observation vs Conclusion
The main difference between observation and conclusion is that observation is the task of noticing something, and the conclusion is a decision or judgement that gets made on the basis of details that can be gained from observation. We perform the process of observing with the help of our five sensory organs but to form a conclusion, we need the help of our brain.
Observation is a process of noticing living or non-living things in order to form a new judgement about it. Observations are not for research exclusively. We take the help of observation in our daily life, but as it is subtle and a rapid process is done by the brain, we do not seem to be aware of it always.
The conclusion is concluding or inferring an argument. The main tool to conclusion is observations or a set of data in the language of research. The conclusion is developed from observation with the help of logic or reasoning. A conclusion is basically connecting the dots of observation data to form a new perception.
Comparison Table Between Observation and Conclusion
| Parameters of Comparison | Observation | Conclusion |
| Meaning | Observation is the process of scrutinizing something to get information about it. | The conclusion is a verdict that is reached by following a set of information. |
| Method | Utilising the five senses is the means of observation. | The conclusion is a mental process. |
| Purpose | A set of observations help to reach a conclusion. | Give a logical explanation of observations. |
| Stage in an Experiment | In a process of experiment observation is the first stage. | In a process of experiment conclusion is the last stage. |
| State | Observation is just noticing things that happen to the subject of observation. | The conclusion is using the already gained knowledge to create a hypothesis. |
What is Observation?
We observe things constantly, mostly without realising it as it is a part of a rapid mental process. When we observe consciously, that is for an experiment or investigation, we call it data. This data can be collected by utilising our five sensory organs. The five senses, sight, smell, sound, feel and taste, support us to examine the information and notice the changes that might take place.
Anything can be a subject of observation, both living and non-living. This is a type of data gathering. Observation leads to the ultimate step of any experiment. The final statement of an experiment is entirely dependent on the process of observation.
In research or experiment, observation includes few steps. Firstly, the identification of the objective and deciding the subject of observation has to be chosen. The next task is to keep a record of the information. By developing strategies and analysing the details, inferences or conclusions can be drawn.
What is Conclusion?
The conclusion means the end or culmination of something. It is a sum-up of decision or inference. A scientific conclusion means the summarisation of the observed records. A logical outcome of observations is known as a conclusion. Conclusions can be drawn without research too. We often come to conclusions in our daily life after noticing changes and developments of things.
A conclusion is the last step of an experiment or research. The conclusion is responsible for synthesising the set of data. The conclusion provides a third point of view that opens a new field of thought in the area of experiment. The conclusion is based on facts, the facts that are collected by observing or monitoring the subject of research. It is a mental process where the various observations regarding the subject are joined together in a logical way to shape a new conception.
Main Differences Between Observation and Conclusion
Conclusion
Observation and conclusion these two processes are not each other’s rivals or opponents. Rather they complete each other. Without observation, no conclusion can be formed, and on the other hand, observations will lead to a conclusion in an inevitable way. We perform the task of observation even subconsciously.
The conclusion is always gets based on our prior knowledge. For example, we observe a ball, and then we observe the ball includes black and white colour, and so we reach the conclusion that it is a football because we know a football is supposed to look like that. If we do not know how a football looks, then it is not possible for us to form the right conclusion. Similarly, in an experiment, with the use of knowledge, the set of data can be summarized into a conclusion.
References
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