How can evidence be used to make inferences?

Targets

At the end of this Unit you should be able to answer the following questions 

1. What is evidence?

1.1 What evidence can be found of human or animal activity?

1.2 How can evidence be used to make inferences?

targets

Recall that observations allow an investigator to gather evidence. These observations include things that appeal to the five senses: sight, taste, touch, smell, hearing. Based on evidence, you are able to make inferences—educated guesses about where the evidence might have come from or what the evidence can tell you.

Review the picture at the beginning of this unit. Consider the observations that were made and what inferences you can draw from them. (The first is done for you as an example).
Courtesy of Sedgwick Museum

Inferences are NOT facts!! We are not certain how the fish bowl was broken or what the cat did, but we can make informed guesses based on our observations. In this situation, we do not have enough information to know if inference #1 or inference #3 is correct.