Cladistic hypotheses

[Chapman, Alex]

Matt,
 
>According to the reviewer, "An analysis may show some result 
>but it does not per se hypothesise anything. The authors are free 
>to hypothesise what they think fit from the results of an analysis."

 
To get back to the original query, the reviewer is merely pointing out some anthropomorphic phrasing in your manuscript.  The author (being sentient) can formulate a hypothesis; a cladogram is simply a tool for visualising the data in support (or otherwise!) of the author's hypothesis.
 
You could therefore write: 'The cladistic analysis supports the hypothesis that the presence ...'
 
The reviewer wasn't questioning that a cladogram can 'be' a hypothesis, but that it is incapable of "hypothesising".
 
Alex
____ 
Alex R. Chapman                   Email: alexc at calm.wa.gov.au 
Editor - Nuytsia       http://science.calm.wa.gov.au/nuytsia/ 
Research Scientist           Voice/Fax: +61 8 9334 0513 /0515 
WA Herbarium - Department of Conservation and Land Management 
Locked Bag 104 Bentley Delivery Centre Western Australia 6983 

	-----Original Message----- 
	From: Taxacom Discussion List on behalf of Matt Buys 
	Sent: Wed 23/11/2005 11:10 PM 
	To: TAXACOM at LISTSERV.NHM.KU.EDU 
	Cc: 
	Subject: Cladistic hypotheses
	
	

	Hi all
	
	I just got a reviewers report on a manuscript where he/she says that the word hypothesise as in the example below is misused:
	        "The cladistic analysis hypothesises the presence of spotted and unspotted leaves as having developed mainly in parallel in X, Y and X."
	
	According to the reviewer, "An analysis may show some result but it does not per se hypothesise anything. The authors are free to hypothesise what they think fit from the results of an analysis."
	
	1. Is'nt a cladogram a hypothesis of relationships AND of character state distributions?
	
	M.
	
	-------------------------------------------------------------------------
	Q: What did the stamen say to the pistil?
	A: I like your "style"
	-------------------------------------------------------------------------
	
	Dr. Matt H. Buys
	A.P. Goossens Herbarium
	School of Environmental Sciences & Development
	North-West University
	Private Bag X6001
	Potchefstroom 2520
	South Africa
	
	Tel: 018 2992507
	Fax: 018 2992503
	
	buysmh at puk.ac.za
	===========================================
	
	Hierdie boodskap (en aanhangsels) is onderhewig aan beperkings en 'n vrywaringsklousule. Volledige besonderhede beskikbaar by http://www.puk.ac.za/itb/e-pos/disclaimer.html.
	This message (and attachments) is subject to restrictions and a disclaimer. Please refer to http://www.puk.ac.za/itb/e-pos/disclaimer.html for full details.
	


This email, together with any attachments, is intended for the
addressee only. It may contain confidential or privileged information.
If you are not the intended recipient of this email, please notify
the sender, delete the email and attachments from your system and
destroy any copies you may have taken of the email and its attachments.
Duplication or further distribution by hardcopy, by electronic means
or verbally is not permitted without permission.