1. Observation and Question: This is where scientists notice something interesting in the world and formulate a question about it. This could be anything from observing a natural phenomenon to seeing a flaw in an existing theory.
2. Hypothesis and Prediction: Scientists propose a possible explanation for their observation (the hypothesis), and then make a specific prediction based on that hypothesis. This prediction must be testable through experimentation or further observation.
3. Experimentation and Analysis: Scientists design and conduct experiments or gather more data to test their prediction. They analyze the results of their experiment to see if the data supports their hypothesis. If the data does not support the hypothesis, the scientists may need to revise their hypothesis or come up with a new one.
It's important to note that this is a simplified model, and many scientific investigations involve additional steps, such as reviewing existing literature, developing a research plan, and communicating findings.
