Which of the following sequences is described as the order of steps in scientific inquiry?

• A. Observation, Question, Hypothesis, Prediction, Experiment, Publish
• B. Question, Observation, Hypothesis, Prediction, Experiment, Publish
• C. Hypothesis, Observation, Data, Conclusion
• D. Observation, Question, Hypothesis, Prediction, Experiment, Publish

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is how scientists move from noticing something to sharing what they’ve learned. You begin with careful observations of the natural world, because those observations ground your inquiry in real phenomena. From what you’ve seen, you form a question about what’s going on. Then you propose a testable explanation—a hypothesis—that can be evaluated. From that hypothesis you derive a prediction, a specific expectation you can check if the hypothesis is true. An experiment is designed to test that prediction and gather data. Finally, you publish the results so others can review, critique, and replicate the work.

This sequence is the most logical flow: data first to spark questions, then a testable explanation, followed by predictions, experiments to test them, and communication of the findings. Starting with a question before any observation or starting with a hypothesis before collecting data would misplace steps, and skipping the reporting stage prevents scientific scrutiny and advancement.