What is the first step in the scientific method?

The scientific method begins with making observations and asking questions about the natural world. After observing something interesting, scientists formulate a hypothesis, which is an educated guess about how or why something happens.

A hypothesis must be testable through experiments. Scientists design experiments to test whether their hypothesis is supported or contradicted by evidence.

After formulating a hypothesis, scientists conduct experiments, analyze data, and draw conclusions. The hypothesis comes first because it guides what experiments to perform and what data to collect.