Final answer:
The statement that is NOT true is that the scientific method is a linear process. It is actually non-linear, flexible, and often unpredictable.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that is NOT true about the reality of the scientific method is C.It is a linear process. The scientific method is indeed unpredictable and flexible, as research often prompts a change in approach. Experiments can lead to new questions, which may take the research in an entirely different direction. Scientific method requires collaboration among scientists, and it is not necessarily a linear pathway from hypothesis to conclusion; rather, it is iterative and can circle back at any stage. The process relies on the continuous evaluation and reevaluation of data, hypotheses, and theories.