After a researcher has identified a problem that (s)he would like to explore,what is the next step in the scientific method?
A) Report the question to established professional journals so that other researchers can get to work trying to find an answer.
B) Gather data that can be used to generate a hypothesis about the research question.
C) Formulate a hypothesis, or an educated guess, as to what the answer to the research question will be.
D) Conduct background research to see what others have found about the question being explored.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

After identifying a problem, the next step in the scientific method is to conduct background research to see what others have found about the question being explored. This allows the researcher to build on existing knowledge and formulate a hypothesis based on previous research. Gathering data and formulating a hypothesis come later in the scientific method. Reporting the question to established professional journals is not a necessary step until the research has been conducted and conclusions reached.

After a Researcher Has Identified a Problem That (S)he Would