A student notices that plants in their garden grow taller when they receive more sunlight. What is the most appropriate next step for the student to take if they want to apply the scientific method to investigate this observation?
Options
Conclude immediately that all plants need more sunlight to grow taller.
Formulate a hypothesis, like 'Plants exposed to more sunlight will grow taller than those with less sunlight,' and design an experiment to test it.
Ask a friend what they think without doing any further investigation.
Water the plants more often, assuming that is the reason for growth.
Explanation
Following an observation, the next logical step in the scientific method is to formulate a testable hypothesis. This hypothesis then guides the design of an experiment to systematically collect data and test the proposed relationship between sunlight and plant height. Concluding immediately, asking for opinions, or changing other variables randomly do not follow the systematic approach of the scientific method.