Question

Anthony is thinking of starting a small hot-dog cart that he will take to the beach area in San Diego, California. Before starting, he investigates city ordinances and talks to vendors in the beach area. He also talks to people at the local parks who sell hot dogs to find out what makes their business successful. Anthony is conducting what stage of the scientific process?

Answer 1

Anthony is in the research and hypothesis formation stage of the scientific process, conducting market research that mirrors the observation, questioning, and hypothesizing steps in the scientific method.

Step-by-step explanation:

Anthony is in the research and hypothesis formation stage of the scientific process. By gathering information on city ordinances, speaking with existing vendors, and trying to understand the factors that contribute to the success of similar businesses, Anthony is effectively conducting market research which parallels the initial steps of the scientific method.

These steps include making observations (understanding the business environment for hot-dog carts in San Diego), asking questions (what makes a hot-dog cart business successful), and forming a hypothesis (ideas about what might contribute to his own business's success).

Once he has this information, he can develop a testable hypothesis that can be experimented with once his business is up and running, such as the ideal location for his hot-dog cart or which products sell best. The testing and analysis will follow as he operates his business and collects data on its performance.