Inferences in Pictures and Graphs

Make inferences in pictures or cartoons

We can apply the same steps we learned about how to draw a conclusion when we are presented with a picture, cartoon, or photograph to make inferences about them. Using the photo and the cartoon below, see what inferences you can make using the steps we've already learned.

The image shows a man with short, black hair wearing a protective suit used in dog training. The man is standing with his legs apart and his arms outstretched. There is a dog on the ground in front of him. It is a German Shephard who appears to be running toward the man. The dog is wearing a harness and a leash but we cannot see if anyone is holding the leash.

Making an inference:

Make some observations. What do you see?
Mix these observations with your own logic and experience. What do you know about anything going on in this picture?
Draw a conclusion by explaining the story behind this picture. Remember to stick to strong inferences and avoid guesses. What is happening here?

There is a dog with long golden hair in the center of the image. The dog has a roll of toilet paper in his mouth. He is carrying it carefully. There is an open door in front of the dog with a hand coming out of the door. Also coming out of the door is a speech bubble that says, "Good dog." Underneath the image is the caption that reads "Perhaps the most noble of all rescue animals: the lavatory retriever."

Making an Inference:

Make some observations.
Mix these observations with your own logic and experience. Do you have experience with a Labrador or an understanding of a lavatory?
Draw a conclusion by explaining the story behind this picture. Remember to stick to strong inferences and avoid guesses.

Make inferences reading charts and graphs

Let's continue to make inferences, but this time we will use a chart or graph. Reading charts and graphs can be challenging, but rewarding! When you are reading a chart or graph, you'll spend a little more time in the observation step of the process of making an inference. You want to be sure you fully understand the data in the graph before trying to make inferences about it. If you're missing some information, your inferences might be incorrect.

View chart source here

Alt text for image: Bar chart showing the opinions of respondents about the societal impacts of generative AI. The chart indicates that 50% of respondents believe generative AI will consolidate power and increase economic inequality, 30% think it will help distribute power more fairly, and 22% believe it will decrease economic inequality

Let's take a moment and follow the 3 steps we learned to make some inferences using this chart about Generative AI.

First, we want to make some observations. Read the chart fully and carefully to be able to make a strong inference.

1. Who? Read the title and subtitle and try to figure out who was surveyed to get this data or who this data is about.
2. What? What is the general topic of the graph?
3. When? What year or years are represented in this data? You might have to read the fine print, or you might be able to find years in the data as it is represented.
4. Where? This means to find the source of the data. Who accumulated this data and put it into this chart? This is also a good time to assess the credibility of the source.
5. Why? This means to fully understand every data point and why this chart or graph was created. Make sure you know exactly what this chart is trying to teach you. Try to pick a data point and explain it to make sure you understand.

The second step is to mix what you've learned in the graph with what you already know and with your own logic and experience.

Remember the more you know about a topic, the better inferences you will be able to make. Building your knowledge base can make you a better reader and a better student for this reason.

The third step is to answer questions about the graph or to tell the story of the data in the graph.

Pick the data point that is most interesting to you and try to explain the why behind it. What is the story behind those numbers? You will also have to make an inference to answer this question: What do these opinions suggest about how workers might use AI in corporations in the coming years?

This is a pie chart titled "Students who Completed Reading Support." There are two colors on the pie chart, orange and blue. The orange represents students with a failing grade in Reading support. 52% of the chart is orange. The blue represents the students who succeeded in Reading Support. 48% of the chart is blue.

Source: Nashville State Community College Office of Institutional Research

Can you make some strong inferences about this chart?

Using what you've learned, make some inferences about the chart titled "Students who Completed Reading Support." Answer the questions below to help you make some strong conclusions about the graph:

Make an observation: What does this graph tell you about successful students?
Make another observation: what does this graph tell you about students who have a failing grade?
Make an inference: Do more students pass or fail the Reading Support class?
Make an inference: Why might more students fail the Reading Support class than pass successfully?
Make an inference: What could be done to increase the success rate in the course?

Click here to continue to M5.3 Inferences in Reading Fiction and Non-Fiction

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