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What is the scientific method?

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Quick answer

The scientific method is a systematic way of building knowledge: observe, ask a question, form a hypothesis, test it with experiments, and refine based on results. It's how science separates reliable ideas from wrong ones. Start with an observation and a testable question.

Key things to understand

  1. Start with an observation and a testable question.
  2. Form a hypothesis — a proposed, falsifiable explanation.
  3. Run controlled experiments and gather data.
  4. Theories that survive repeated testing become accepted.

People also ask

What are the steps of the scientific method?
Observe, question, hypothesize, experiment, analyze, and conclude — then repeat or refine.
What is a hypothesis?
A testable, falsifiable proposed explanation for an observation.
Why must science be falsifiable?
If a claim can't possibly be proven wrong by evidence, it can't be tested — and testing is what makes science reliable.