Which step of the scientific method involves making an observation and stating a problem?

• A. Observation and Problem
• B. Hypothesis
• C. Controlled Experiment
• D. Analyze Results

Answer: (A)

Making careful observations about the natural world and turning those observations into a clear problem or question is the first move in the scientific method. This initial step focuses your investigation and gives it direction, so you know what question you’re trying to answer. After that comes forming a hypothesis, an educated guess you can test. Then you design a controlled experiment to test that guess, and finally analyze the data to determine what the results mean. So the step that involves observing and stating a problem is the one where you identify what you want to investigate.