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)
- Execute all 4 SOPs; mechanism-extraction is run independently for each theory; relationship-specification additionally outputs a cross-theory variable-overlap analysis
- Coverage: ≥3 theories, ≥5 mechanisms, cross-theory variable mapping, ≥5 hypothesis candidates
- Suitable when: the domain is theory-rich and systematic deductive coverage is needed
Minimum Yield
- ≥2 theories identified and described (including core claim and scope of applicability)
- ≥3 mechanisms extracted from the theories (each with a causal-chain description)
- Each mechanism corresponds to at least 1 hypothesis candidate, including:
- Independent and dependent variables (named)
- Relationship direction (positive/negative/nonlinear)
- Source mechanism (traceable to which mechanism of which theory)
Yield Report
After execution, report to the calling strategy:
- Number of theories identified / mechanisms extracted / hypothesis candidates generated
- Theory coverage (which theories were included, which were excluded and why)
- Variable overlap (variables shared by multiple mechanisms, possibly key moderating variables)
- Hypothesis candidate quality assessment: which candidate variables are highly operationalizable, which need further operationalization
Available SOPs
Optional, no fixed order; the final leaf is always a sop.
| SOP |
When to use |
| hypothesis-formation-variable-identification |
SOP: identify variables and their roles within a hypothesis |
| mechanism-extraction |
SOP: extract causal mechanism chains from a theory |
| relationship-specification |
SOP: specify the direction and form of relationships between variables |
| theory-identification |
SOP: Identify theoretical frameworks relevant to a research gap |
1---2name: theory-mechanism-extraction3description: Tactic: Core of the deductive path — start from theory to extract mechanisms, variables, and relationships, generating hypothesis candidates4---56# Theory Mechanism Extraction78Core of the deductive path — starting from existing theory, systematically extract mechanisms, identify variables, and specify relationships, providing a structured basis for deductive hypothesis generation.910## Orchestration Intent1112The 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.1314The 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.1516## Available SOPs1718| SOP | Responsibility | When to call |19|-----|------|---------|20| theory-identification | Identify existing theories relevant to the gap/insight (including theory name, core claim, scope of applicability) | Required in all modes, executed first |21| mechanism-extraction | Extract operationalizable causal mechanisms from each theory (mechanism = the process linking cause and effect) | Required in all modes, after theory-identification |22| variable-identification | Identify independent, dependent, moderating, and control variables from each mechanism | Required in all modes, after mechanism-extraction |23| relationship-specification | Specify the directional relationships between variables (positive/negative/nonlinear/moderation/mediation), generating hypothesis candidates | Required in all modes, executed last |2425## Orchestration Pattern2627**Simplified (S tier, 1 theory)**28- Sequential execution: theory-identification → mechanism-extraction → variable-identification → relationship-specification29- Coverage: 1 theory, ≥1 mechanism, ≥1 hypothesis candidate30- Suitable when: the gap background is clear and theoretical support is singular3132**Standard (M tier, 2-3 theories)**33- Execute all 4 SOPs sequentially, repeating mechanism-extraction + variable-identification + relationship-specification for each identified theory34- Coverage: ≥2 theories, ≥3 mechanisms, ≥1 hypothesis candidate per mechanism35- Suitable when: the gap spans multiple theoretical frameworks and deductive paths must be compared3637**Deep (L tier, ≥3 theories)**38- Execute all 4 SOPs; mechanism-extraction is run independently for each theory; relationship-specification additionally outputs a cross-theory variable-overlap analysis39- Coverage: ≥3 theories, ≥5 mechanisms, cross-theory variable mapping, ≥5 hypothesis candidates40- Suitable when: the domain is theory-rich and systematic deductive coverage is needed4142## Minimum Yield4344- ≥2 theories identified and described (including core claim and scope of applicability)45- ≥3 mechanisms extracted from the theories (each with a causal-chain description)46- Each mechanism corresponds to at least 1 hypothesis candidate, including:47 - Independent and dependent variables (named)48 - Relationship direction (positive/negative/nonlinear)49 - Source mechanism (traceable to which mechanism of which theory)5051## Yield Report5253After execution, report to the calling strategy:54- Number of theories identified / mechanisms extracted / hypothesis candidates generated55- Theory coverage (which theories were included, which were excluded and why)56- Variable overlap (variables shared by multiple mechanisms, possibly key moderating variables)57- Hypothesis candidate quality assessment: which candidate variables are highly operationalizable, which need further operationalization5859<!-- BEGIN available-tables (generated) -->6061## Available SOPs6263Optional, no fixed order; the final leaf is always a sop.6465| SOP | When to use |66| --- | --- |67| hypothesis-formation-variable-identification | SOP: identify variables and their roles within a hypothesis |68| mechanism-extraction | SOP: extract causal mechanism chains from a theory |69| relationship-specification | SOP: specify the direction and form of relationships between variables |70| theory-identification | SOP: Identify theoretical frameworks relevant to a research gap |7172<!-- END available-tables (generated) -->
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