Questions: What are the first steps in the scientific method?

The answer is the third one: Make an observation & state the issue to be investigated.

Explanation for each option:

1. Conduct the experiment: This is not the first step. Conducting an experiment comes after formulating a hypothesis and designing the experiment.

2. Collect and analyze data: This step occurs after conducting the experiment. It involves gathering the results and interpreting them to understand the findings.

3. Make an observation & state the issue to be investigated: This is the correct first step in the scientific method. It involves noticing a phenomenon or problem and clearly defining what you want to study or understand.

4. Draw a conclusion based upon the observations: This is one of the final steps in the scientific method, where you interpret the data and determine whether it supports your hypothesis.

In summary, the first step in the scientific method is to make an observation and state the issue to be investigated.