Which of the following is the first step in the scientific method?

• A. Form a hypothesis
• B. Experimentation
• C. Observation
• D. Ask a question or identify a problem

Answer: (D)

The first step is to ask a question or identify a problem. This focus gives the investigation a clear purpose and direction, shaping what you observe, what you will test, and what counts as evidence. Without a defined question, observations can become aimless; framing a problem or question sets up what you need to learn and guides the rest of the method, such as forming a testable hypothesis, planning experiments, and gathering data. Often, curiosity about a phenomenon leads to a question like, “What effect does X have on Y?” which then drives the subsequent steps.