Which scientific method follows these steps: (i) observation and data, (ii) patterns, and (iii) theory?

Observation and data, then patterns, then theory is the bottom-up inductive sequence.

Deductive reasoning reverses this, moving from theory down to observation.

Top-down names the deductive direction, not this one.

Confirmatory describes deductive testing, not theory building.

Induction ends by generating a theory from detected patterns.

The inductive route is exploratory and generative in nature.