Final answer:
The four stages of the hypothetico-deductive method include making observations, formulating a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis through experimentation, and then accepting or modifying the hypothesis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The hypothetico-deductive method is a foundational process in the scientific method which involves several key stages. Four primary stages of this scientific approach are:
- Make observations to gather information and data about the phenomenon of interest.
- Formulate a hypothesis which is a tentative explanation based on the observations made.
- Test the hypothesis through carefully designed experiments to collect empirical evidence.
- Accept or modify the hypothesis based on the results of the experimentation. If the hypothesis is not supported, the scientist may revise it or formulate a new one.
These stages embody a continuous process where the ultimate goal is the advancement of scientific knowledge through iterative observations, hypotheses development, and experimentation.