| name | theory-mechanism-extraction |
| description | Tactic: Core of the deductive path — start from theory to extract mechanisms, variables, and relationships, generating hypothesis candidates |
| version | 1.0.0 |
| category | hypothesis-formation |
| type | tactic |
| campaign | hypothesis-formulation |
| sops | ["theory-identification","mechanism-extraction","variable-identification","relationship-specification"] |
| dependencies | {"sops":["hypothesis-formation-variable-identification","mechanism-extraction","relationship-specification","theory-identification"]} |
Theory Mechanism Extraction
Core of the deductive path — starting from existing theory, systematically extract mechanisms, identify variables, and specify relationships, providing a structured basis for deductive hypothesis generation.
Orchestration Intent
The starting point of deductive reasoning is theory, not data. This tactic forces the CC to first identify relevant theories in the domain, then unpack layer by layer: theory → mechanism → variable → variable-to-variable relationship. Each layer is the prerequisite for the next; skipping steps is not allowed.
The final output is not the hypotheses themselves, but the "raw material" for hypotheses — each mechanism corresponds to at least one hypothesis candidate (with variables and direction), for the upstream strategy to further formalize.
Available SOPs
| SOP | Responsibility | When to call |
|---|
| theory-identification | Identify existing theories relevant to the gap/insight (including theory name, core claim, scope of applicability) | Required in all modes, executed first |
| mechanism-extraction | Extract operationalizable causal mechanisms from each theory (mechanism = the process linking cause and effect) | Required in all modes, after theory-identification |
| variable-identification | Identify independent, dependent, moderating, and control variables from each mechanism | Required in all modes, after mechanism-extraction |
| relationship-specification | Specify the directional relationships between variables (positive/negative/nonlinear/moderation/mediation), generating hypothesis candidates | Required in all modes, executed last |
Orchestration Pattern
Simplified (S tier, 1 theory)
- Sequential execution: theory-identification → mechanism-extraction → variable-identification → relationship-specification
- Coverage: 1 theory, ≥1 mechanism, ≥1 hypothesis candidate
- Suitable when: the gap background is clear and theoretical support is singular
Standard (M tier, 2-3 theories)
- Execute all 4 SOPs sequentially, repeating mechanism-extraction + variable-identification + relationship-specification for each identified theory
- Coverage: ≥2 theories, ≥3 mechanisms, ≥1 hypothesis candidate per mechanism
- Suitable when: the gap spans multiple theoretical frameworks and deductive paths must be compared
Deep (L tier, ≥3 theories)
