The scientific method involves five basic steps: (1) making an observation that leads to a question, (2) forming a hypothesis to answer the question, (3) designing an experiment to test the hypothesis, (4) collecting and analyzing data from the experiment, and (5) reporting results so other scientists can verify them. A hypothesis that is supported over time by many investigations and observations becomes a scientific theory, which provides an explanation supported by extensive evidence. Scientific laws describe consistent relationships in nature.