metahypothesis

Metahypothesis is a term used in philosophy of science and research methodology to denote a hypothesis about hypotheses. In this sense, it is a higher-order proposition that concerns the nature, generation, testing, or interpretation of hypotheses within a particular domain. There is no single, universally accepted definition, and the term has been used in varying ways by different authors.

Common topics associated with metahypotheses include the selection of hypothesis space, the evidential standards applied to testing, the potential biases in hypothesis formation, and the criteria by which hypotheses are judged preferable. A metahypothesis can address questions such as whether the current methodological framework tends to favor certain kinds of explanations or whether the chosen methods are sufficient to discriminate among alternatives.

Examples include statements that function as metahypotheses about the scientific process, such as that a field tends to underweight negative results due to publication bias, or that the set of plausible explanations for a phenomenon is incomplete given the measurement tools available. Such statements concern the structure and limits of inquiry rather than direct claims about empirical phenomena.

Relation to other terms: metahypotheses are related to metatheory (higher-level theories about theory), meta-analysis (synthesis of empirical results), and methodological assumptions. They should not be confused with direct empirical hypotheses about a phenomenon.

See also: metatheory, meta-analysis, hypothesis, scientific method, research methodology.