Science philosophical
Besides scientific proof of a hypothesis for a phenomenon, where you have to prove that nothing else affects the hypothesis, you can first make a philosophical reproach to see if an idea you have is credible for a hypothesis for a particular case. To clarify the term hypothesis, its nothing more than an assumption.
The basic rule for a philosophical approach to hypothesising a phenomenon has to do with the principle of total symmetry. In other words, what is true in one case must be conversely true in other situations to be credible, even in other scientific disciplines. Scientific disciplines are biology, ecology, evolution, physics, quantum field theory etc.
Across similar situations
The first philosophical approach to determining whether an idea is credible for a hypothesis is to see whether they hold up in and do not contradict similar situations. This includes other time periods. For example, if I have an idea about why something happens to me, but it does not apply to everyone else, then the idea is probably wrong. Another example is the idea that the world is shaped by design. But there is no consistency in manifestation. One religion says it happened this way and another says it happened differently.
Across disciplines
Second, to determine whether a hypothesis or idea of a phenomenon is credible, it must also not be suppressed and supported by proven phenomena in and other scientific disciplines. For example, the idea that the world is shaped by design is not reflected in any scientific discipline.