Final answer:
The phrase that best describes how scientists use the data they collect is to decide if there is support for an experiment's conclusions. They use evidence from experiments to either support or disprove their hypotheses.
Step-by-step explanation:
Which phrase best describes how scientists use the data they collect? The best description is a. To decide if there is support for an experiment's conclusions. When scientists conduct experiments, they collect data to test their hypotheses. They analyze this data to see if it supports or rejects the hypothesis. If the data supports the hypothesis, it could lead to more testing and refinement of the hypothesis. However, if the data rejects the hypothesis, scientists may develop new hypotheses to explain their observations.
It's important to note that the scientific method is iterative and self-correcting. A single experiment's results are not enough to prove a hypothesis absolutely correct, as future experiments may provide contradictory findings. Instead, scientists gather evidence through experimentation and use that evidence to support or disprove hypotheses, which can eventually contribute to scientific theories.