A scientist conducts an experiment and observes unexpected results. What is the most appropriate next step according to the scientific method?
Options
Ignore the results and try a different experiment.
Change the hypothesis to fit the results.
Analyze the results, formulate new questions, and conduct further experiments.
Declare the experiment a failure and stop investigating.
Explanation
The scientific method is iterative. Unexpected results are valuable; they often reveal new insights or flaws in the initial hypothesis or experimental design. A good scientist would analyze these results carefully, question their assumptions, and design further experiments to explore the new observations or refine the original hypothesis, rather than ignoring them or forcing the hypothesis to fit.