Abstract
The method of multiple working hypotheses is an important application of inductive reasoning first formalized by T.C. Chamberlin in 1897. Use of this method tends to prevent a researcher from blindly accepting the first explanatory idea that pops into his head during the course of an investigation. Despite the importance of the method, few introductory geology textbooks mention it. To illustrate the method, two concrete examples of its application are presented. The first involves purported explanations for a hypothetical correlation between acne and chocolate avoidance. The second involves mechanisms for causing an anomalous zoning profile of incompatible elements in the Lester River Sill near Duluth, Minnesota. It is concluded that the sill is a composite intrusion consisting of two separate sills with different initial compositions. These detailed examples of the use of the method of multiple working hypotheses clearly illustrate its utility.
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