Final answer:
Carrying out background research comes after developing a hypothesis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct statement is (a) Carrying out background research comes after developing a hypothesis. The scientific method typically starts with asking a question, followed by researching existing sources, and then formulating a hypothesis. Background research helps gather relevant information to develop a hypothesis based on existing knowledge and observations. Once a hypothesis is formed, it can be tested through experiments or observations to validate or contradict it.