What step in the scientific method typically involves inductive reasoning?

The correct answer is the step that involves developing a hypothesis. This step typically requires inductive reasoning, which is the process of forming general conclusions based on specific observations. During this stage, the investigator looks at data or trends gathered during preliminary observations and draws conclusions or generates a hypothesis that proposes a potential explanation for the observations made.

Inductive reasoning allows the investigator to create a broad generalization that might not have been explicitly stated before, leading to testable predictions that can be explored in subsequent steps of the scientific method. This contrasts with other steps in the process, such as experimentation or data collection, which focus more on testing hypotheses rather than formulating them.