Question

List the steps of the scientific method

Answer 1

Commonly accepted steps (in practice they’re iterative rather than strictly linear):

- Observation — notice a phenomenon or pattern.
- Question — ask a specific, testable question about the observation.
- Background research — review existing knowledge and refine the question.
- Hypothesis — propose a testable explanation (an “if…then…” statement).
- Prediction — derive specific, measurable predictions that follow from the hypothesis.
- Experiment/Testing — design and perform controlled experiments or gather data to test the predictions.
- Data analysis — analyze the results using appropriate methods and statistics.
- Conclusion — determine whether the data support or refute the hypothesis; revise the hypothesis if needed.
- Communication — report methods, data, and conclusions so others can evaluate and replicate them.
- Replication and further testing — repeat experiments and extend testing to build confidence or develop broader theories.