3.22 Models: Associational vs. causal inference

• Joint distribution is basis for any quantitative analysis (Holland 1986, 948; Pearl 2009)
• Associational inference (descriptive questions):
  • Summarize joint distribution with statistical model (e.g. regression model)
  • Does not tell us anything about causality, e.g. coefficient represents effect in both directions (Trust ↔ Threat)
• Causal inference (causal questions):
  • Summarize joint distribution with statistical model
  • Add assumptions
  • Give causal interpretation to coefficients!

References

Holland, Paul W. 1986. “Statistics and Causal Inference.” J. Am. Stat. Assoc. 81 (396): 945–60.

Pearl, Judea. 2009. “Causal Inference in Statistics: An Overview.” Stat. Surv. 3: 96–146.