The Hierarchy-of-Hypotheses Approach: A Synthesis Method for Enhancing Theory Development in Ecology and Evolution
Heger, T.; Aguilar-Trigueros, C.A.; Bartram, I.; Braga, R.R.; Dietl, G.P.; Enders, M.; Gibson, D.J.; Gómez-Aparicio, L.; Gras, P.; Jax, K.; Lokatis, S.; Lortie, C.J.; Mupepele, A.-C.; Schindler, S.; Starrfelt, J.; Synodinos, A.D.; Jeschke, J.M. – 2021
In the current era of Big Data, existing synthesis tools such as formal meta-analyses are critical means to handle the deluge of information. However, there is a need for complementary tools that help to (a) organize evidence, (b) organize theory, and (c) closely connect evidence to theory. We present the hierarchy-of-hypotheses (HoH) approach to address these issues. In an HoH, hypotheses are conceptually and visually structured in a hierarchically nested way where the lower branches can be directly connected to empirical results. Used for organizing evidence, this tool allows researchers to conceptually connect empirical results derived through diverse approaches and to reveal under which circumstances hypotheses are applicable. Used for organizing theory, it allows researchers to uncover mechanistic components of hypotheses and previously neglected conceptual connections. In the present article, we offer guidance on how to build an HoH, provide examples from population and evolutionary biology and propose terminological clarifications.
author = {Heger, Tina and Aguilar-Trigueros, Carlos A and Bartram, Isabelle and Braga, Raul Rennó and Dietl, Gregory P and Enders, Martin and Gibson, David J and Gómez-Aparicio, Lorena and Gras, Pierre and Jax, Kurt and Lokatis, Sophie and Lortie, Christopher J and Mupepele, Anne-Christine and Schindler, Stefan and Starrfelt, Jostein and Synodinos, Alexis D and Jeschke, Jonathan M},
title = "{The Hierarchy-of-Hypotheses Approach: A Synthesis Method for Enhancing Theory Development in Ecology and Evolution}",
journal = {BioScience},
volume = {71},
number = {4},
pages = {337-349},
year = {2020},
month = {12},
abstract = "{In the current era of Big Data, existing synthesis tools such as formal meta-analyses are critical means to handle the deluge of information. However, there is a need for complementary tools that help to (a) organize evidence, (b) organize theory, and (c) closely connect evidence to theory. We present the hierarchy-of-hypotheses (HoH) approach to address these issues. In an HoH, hypotheses are conceptually and visually structured in a hierarchically nested way where the lower branches can be directly connected to empirical results. Used for organizing evidence, this tool allows researchers to conceptually connect empirical results derived through diverse approaches and to reveal under which circumstances hypotheses are applicable. Used for organizing theory, it allows researchers to uncover mechanistic components of hypotheses and previously neglected conceptual connections. In the present article, we offer guidance on how to build an HoH, provide examples from population and evolutionary biology and propose terminological clarifications.}",
issn = {0006-3568},
doi = {10.1093/biosci/biaa130},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biaa130},
eprint = {https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article-pdf/71/4/337/37020635/biaa130.pdf},
}