Which term describes scientific studies aimed at understanding natural phenomena?

The term that describes scientific studies aimed at understanding natural phenomena is scientific inquiry. This concept encompasses the overall process that scientists use to explore questions about the natural world, formulate hypotheses, conduct experiments, gather observations, and draw conclusions based on the evidence collected. Scientific inquiry is fundamental to the scientific method and encourages critical thinking and investigation to expand knowledge and understanding of scientific principles.

In contrast, scientific observation refers specifically to the act of carefully monitoring and recording phenomena, which is only one part of the broader process of inquiry. Hypothesis testing focuses on evaluating the validity of a specific hypothesis through experimentation, while experimental research is a methodology used to systematically test hypotheses, often involving controlled experiments. Both hypothesis testing and experimental research are components of the scientific inquiry process, but they do not encompass the entire breadth of scientific studies aimed at understanding natural phenomena.