Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of scientific inquiry?

The choice of relying on anecdotal evidence is indeed not a characteristic of scientific inquiry. Scientific inquiry is grounded in systematic observation, experimentation, and the use of the scientific method to draw conclusions. Testable questions and hypotheses are integral, as they form the basis of what experiments seek to investigate.

Data collection and analysis are fundamental components of scientific inquiry because they provide the empirical evidence needed to support or refute a hypothesis. Additionally, the replication of experiments is crucial for verifying results, as it helps establish reliability and validity in the findings. Anecdotal evidence, on the other hand, is based on personal accounts or isolated examples that lack the rigorous methodology required for scientific research. Therefore, it does not provide a reliable foundation for making generalizations or scientific conclusions.