Scientists often ____ patterns from data.

• A. summarize
• B. measure
• C. predict
• D. infer

Answer: (D)

Interpreting data to draw conclusions about patterns is what scientists do. When you infer, you use the evidence in the data along with what you already know to decide what pattern is present or what relationship is likely. This goes beyond simply restating the data (summarizing), counting or measuring values (measuring), or forecasting future values based on a model (predicting). Inferring captures the act of making a reasoned conclusion about the pattern itself from what the data show. For example, if multiple experiments show a steady increase in a response as a variable rises, you infer a relationship between the variables rather than just listing numbers or predicting next values.