which of the following best describes a scientific inference?
A.the data collected during an experiment
B.an explanation based on facts but is not the direct observation
C.an opinion that is not based on logical thinking or material evidence
D.the results from experiments that can be reproduced through more experimentation
The best answer choice that describes a scientific inference is B. An inference in science is an explanation that is based on facts, evidence, and reasoning, but is not directly observed. It is a logical deduction drawn from the available data.
To arrive at a scientific inference, scientists collect and analyze data through experiments or observations. They then use this data to make logical interpretations or conclusions about the phenomena they are studying. Inferences help scientists make sense of the observations they have made and form hypotheses or theories that can be further tested.
Choice A, "the data collected during an experiment," is not the best answer because the data itself is the information obtained through observations or experiments, but it is not the inference itself.
Choice C, "an opinion that is not based on logical thinking or material evidence," is incorrect because scientific inferences are based on logical thinking and material evidence, not opinions.
Choice D, "the results from experiments that can be reproduced through more experimentation," describes empirical evidence or the reproducibility of experimental results, but not specifically the concept of a scientific inference.