What is observation?
Q: What is observation?
A: Observation is an activity of an intelligent living being (e.g. human) which senses and assimilates the knowledge of a phenomenon in its framework of previous knowledge and ideas.
Q: How does observation differ from simply observing?
A: Observation requires more than just the act of observing; it involves actively seeking out knowledge, often through experimentation.
Q: Why are observations that come from self-defining instruments unreliable?
A: Self-defining instruments can produce varying results even when presented with the same stimuli, making them difficult to reproduce and not very useful for exact sciences like physics which require precise measurements.
Q: What types of engineered instruments are used to improve accuracy and quality of information obtained through observation?
A: Examples of engineered instruments include spectrometers, oscilloscopes, cameras, telescopes, interferometers, tape recorders, thermometers etc., as well as tools like clocks and scales that help increase accuracy and utility.
Q: How has accuracy in science been achieved?
A: The accuracy and success of science has been attributed to accurate and objective (i.e., repeatable) observations made about reality explored by science.
