Final answer:
The scientific method involves six basic steps: making observations; asking questions; conducting background research; formulating a hypothesis; testing that hypothesis with experiments; and reporting results, including proposing a new hypothesis if the original is not supported.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scientific method is a process used for scientific investigation. It involves a series of well-defined steps starting with making observations and culminating in drawing conclusions. The steps are as follows:
- Make observations.
- Identify a question based on the observation.
- Conduct research to find out what is already known.
- Form a hypothesis.
- Test the hypothesis with experiments.
- Report results and, if the hypothesis is not supported, propose a new hypothesis.
These steps are the foundation of the scientific process, which may potentially involve repeating the cycle with a new hypothesis if the initial one does not hold up against the experimental data.