Study design important in this process. In Wildlife management, much research is in response to a perceived problem.
Some people call thies applied .
The preliminary hypothesis is usually based on pattern of observed association. The truth may be more complex. In a replicated field study, you make observations under a number of conditions. There is less manipulation, basically set up or choose different conditions, watch and see what happens. Can be large scale, so the results may be higher in inference, but you have less control so lower in certainty.