The scientific method typically consists of six or seven steps , depending on the source and how the process is broken down. The most commonly cited steps are:
- Ask a Question – Identify the problem or question to be answered.
- Do Background Research – Gather existing information related to the question.
- Construct a Hypothesis – Form an educated guess or prediction that can be tested.
- Conduct an Experiment – Test the hypothesis through controlled experimentation.
- Analyze Data and Draw Conclusions – Examine the results to see if they support the hypothesis.
- Communicate Results – Share findings with others through reports, presentations, or publications.
Some frameworks include an initial Observation step before asking a question or separate Making Predictions as its own step, leading to a total of seven steps:
- Observation
- Question
- Research
- Hypothesis
- Experiment
- Data Analysis
- Conclusion and Communication
For example, one detailed outline lists these seven steps: Question, Research, Hypothesis, Experiment, Data Analysis, Conclusion, and Communication
. In summary, the scientific method is most often described as having 6 to 7 key steps that guide the process of scientific inquiry from posing a question to sharing results. The exact number can vary slightly based on interpretation, but the core logical sequence remains consistent
