# Competing Hypothesis Generation

> SOP: Generate mechanistically distinct competing hypotheses for the same phenomenon

- Skill: `yogsoth-ai/competing-hypothesis-generation` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add yogsoth-ai/competing-hypothesis-generation`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/yogsoth-ai/competing-hypothesis-generation/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: yogsoth-ai (https://skillmd.com/u/yogsoth-ai)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/yogsoth-ai/competing-hypothesis-generation

---


# Competing Hypothesis Generation
Generate genuinely distinct competing hypotheses for the same phenomenon to guard against confirmation bias and keep explanations open.

## HARD-GATE
<HARD-GATE>
Preconditions (all must hold before starting):
1. At least 1 primary hypothesis is available (with statement + mechanism)
2. A phenomenon description is provided (the phenomenon the primary hypothesis attempts to explain)

Not satisfied → stop and return error: primary hypothesis and phenomenon description required.
</HARD-GATE>

## Pipeline
1. Precondition check: verify completeness of the primary hypothesis and phenomenon description
2. Alternative mechanism search: look for different causal mechanisms that can explain the same phenomenon
3. Alternative theory application: derive predictions about the same phenomenon from different theoretical frameworks
4. Reverse reasoning: consider explanations with the opposite causal direction
5. Deduplication: ensure each competing hypothesis is mechanistically distinct from the primary hypothesis and from the other competing hypotheses
6. Output competing hypothesis list

## Output Format
```json
[
  {
    "hypothesis_id": "CH1",
    "statement": "Competing hypothesis statement",
    "mechanism": "Different causal mechanism from the primary hypothesis",
    "theoretical_basis": "Theory or reasoning supporting this alternative",
    "key_difference": "How this differs mechanistically from the primary hypothesis",
    "shared_prediction": "Prediction shared with primary hypothesis (makes discrimination hard)",
    "unique_prediction": "Prediction unique to this hypothesis (enables discrimination)"
  }
]
```
At least 2 competing hypotheses, each mechanistically distinct from the primary hypothesis.
</output>