Developing a hypothesis is the _____ step in the scientific method.

Developing a hypothesis is the third step in the scientific method. The scientific method generally involves the following steps:

1. Observation: Making observations about a phenomenon or asking a question about a natural occurrence.
2. Research: Conducting background research to gather information and understand existing knowledge about the topic.
3. Hypothesis: Formulating a hypothesis, which is a testable and falsifiable statement that predicts the relationship between variables.
4. Experimentation: Designing and conducting experiments to test the hypothesis.
5. Analysis: Collecting and analyzing data obtained from the experiments.
6. Conclusion: Drawing conclusions based on the analysis and determining whether the hypothesis is supported or rejected.
7. Communication: Sharing the findings with the scientific community through publications, presentations, or other means.

The formulation of a hypothesis is a crucial step as it guides the experimental process and allows for the systematic testing of ideas.