Observation is either an activity of a living being, such as a human, consisting of receiving knowledge of the outside world through the senses, or the recording of data using scientific instruments. The term may also refer to any data collected during this activity.
Read more about Observation: Observation in Science, Observational Paradoxes, Biases, Observations in Philosophy
Famous quotes containing the word observation:
“It is a great pitybut tis certain from every days observation of man, that he may be set on fire like a candle, at either endprovided there is a sufficient wick standing out.”
—Laurence Sterne (17131768)
“I should say that the most prominent scientific men of our country, and perhaps of this age, are either serving the arts and not pure science, or are performing faithful but quite subordinate labors in particular departments. They make no steady and systematic approaches to the central fact.... There is wanting constant and accurate observation with enough of theory to direct and discipline it. But, above all, there is wanting genius.”
—Henry David Thoreau (18171862)
“One mans observation is another mans closed book or flight of fancy.”
—Willard Van Orman Quine (b. 1908)