Answer:
The description you provided refers to the process of scientific inquiry. Scientific inquiry is a systematic and organized approach that scientists and researchers use to gather, modify, and integrate knowledge about observable and measurable phenomena in the natural world. This process typically involves several key steps, including:
1. **Observation:** The process begins with the observation of a natural phenomenon or a specific question or problem that needs to be addressed. Observations are made using the five senses or through the use of instruments and tools.
2. **Hypothesis:** Once an observation is made, scientists formulate a hypothesis. A hypothesis is a testable statement or educated guess about the phenomenon in question. It serves as a proposed explanation that can be tested through experimentation.
3. **Experimentation:** Researchers design and conduct experiments to test the hypothesis. Experiments involve carefully controlled procedures, data collection, and analysis to determine if the hypothesis is supported or refuted.
4. **Data Collection and Analysis:** During experimentation, data is collected and analyzed to draw conclusions about the hypothesis. This often involves statistical methods to determine the significance of the results.
5. **Conclusion:** Based on the analysis of the data, researchers draw conclusions about whether the hypothesis is supported or not. These conclusions can lead to a deeper understanding of the phenomenon being studied.
6. **Communication:** Scientists communicate their findings through research papers, presentations, and publications. This step is crucial for sharing knowledge with the scientific community and the broader public.
7. **Peer Review:** Scientific research typically undergoes peer review, where other experts in the field assess the validity and quality of the research before it is published. This helps ensure the reliability of the findings.
8. **Revision and Further Study:** Scientific inquiry often leads to more questions and avenues for further research. Researchers may revise their hypotheses and conduct additional experiments to build on their knowledge.
Overall, scientific inquiry is a rigorous and systematic process that plays a central role in advancing our understanding of the natural world and solving problems through evidence-based reasoning.
Step-by-step explanation: