Observation: Careful observation of a problem or phenomenon, using senses or tools like microscopes. Asking Questions: The observations lead to a specific inquiry. Forming a Hypothesis: A hypothesis is a proposed scientific explanation or a possible answer that must be testable. Testing the hypothesis: Conducted through experimentation. Experiments must be able to be duplicated by other scientists to verify the results. Making conclusions: Analyzing data to see if the original hypothesis is supported or rejected. Communicating the findings: Writing a paper for a scientific journal to share results with the global community