Summary

The motivation for ecological research is to make scientific inference based on the coherence of a scientific explanation for a why-type question. Research may be required in first describing phenomena, and scientific inference is unlikely to be definitive, but the aim of making explanations and so advancing ecological theory drives research.

Three types of explanation are outlined: causal, organizational, and unifying. In ecology we base our fundamental working assumptions on causal processes. We frequently seek to understand the organization of ecosystems, communities and populations. We intend that our integrative concepts will provide unified explanations.

Progressive Synthesis is a methodology for scientific investigation in ecology that acknowledges the requirement to make upward inference about integrative ecology. It defines how different techniques available for investigating ecological problems, e.g., surveys, experiments, modeling, can be used in constructing objective knowledge. Progressive Synthesis has a philosophy, three principles, and five components to its method.

The philosophy is pragmatic realism. Science aims to provide the best explanatory account of natural phenomena, and acceptance of a scientific theory involves the belief that it belongs to such an account. This steers a course between two views: belief that scientific theories really are true representations of the world, and an opposing belief that all scientific theories should, and can, do is account for the information gathered so far.

To produce the best explanatory account, three principles must guide investigations. (1) Criticism of increasing breadth must be applied to objectives, methods and results. (2) Precision in definition is required to develop the coherence in breadth and detail of an explanation.