Which statement best describes scientific inquiry?

Which statement best describes scientific inquiry?

• A. A rigid method that never revises beliefs.
• B. A data entry exercise without hypothesis.
• C. An untestable speculation.
• D. The process of asking questions, making observations, forming hypotheses, conducting experiments, and drawing conclusions based on evidence.

Answer: (D)

Scientific inquiry is an evidence-based, iterative process that begins with questions and careful observations and proceeds by forming testable hypotheses, designing and conducting experiments, and drawing conclusions grounded in data. This best describes the approach because it highlights both asking questions and relying on evidence to support or revise ideas. It isn’t a rigid method that never revises beliefs, since scientific understanding evolves with new data. It isn’t just collecting data without guiding hypotheses, because hypotheses steer experiments and interpretation. It isn’t mere untestable speculation, because science requires testability and evidence-based conclusions.

Scientific inquiry is an evidence-based, iterative process that begins with questions and careful observations and proceeds by forming testable hypotheses, designing and conducting experiments, and drawing conclusions grounded in data. This best describes the approach because it highlights both asking questions and relying on evidence to support or revise ideas. It isn’t a rigid method that never revises beliefs, since scientific understanding evolves with new data. It isn’t just collecting data without guiding hypotheses, because hypotheses steer experiments and interpretation. It isn’t mere untestable speculation, because science requires testability and evidence-based conclusions.