Title |
How multiple causes combine: independence constraints on causal inference
|
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Published in |
Frontiers in Psychology, August 2015
|
DOI | 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01135 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Mimi Liljeholm |
Abstract |
According to the causal power view, two core constraints-that causes occur independently (i.e., no confounding) and influence their effects independently-serve as boundary conditions for causal induction. This study investigated how violations of these constraints modulate uncertainty about the existence and strength of a causal relationship. Participants were presented with pairs of candidate causes that were either confounded or not, and that either interacted or exerted their influences independently. Consistent with the causal power view, uncertainty about the existence and strength of causal relationships was greater when causes were confounded or interacted than when unconfounded and acting independently. An elemental Bayesian causal model captured differences in uncertainty due to confounding but not those due to an interaction. Implications of distinct sources of uncertainty for the selection of contingency information and causal generalization are discussed. |
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Chile | 1 | 25% |
Belgium | 1 | 25% |
Switzerland | 1 | 25% |
Unknown | 1 | 25% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
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Scientists | 2 | 50% |
Members of the public | 1 | 25% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 1 | 25% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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Unknown | 20 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
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Student > Ph. D. Student | 6 | 30% |
Researcher | 3 | 15% |
Student > Bachelor | 2 | 10% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 2 | 10% |
Student > Postgraduate | 1 | 5% |
Other | 0 | 0% |
Unknown | 6 | 30% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Psychology | 7 | 35% |
Engineering | 2 | 10% |
Business, Management and Accounting | 1 | 5% |
Environmental Science | 1 | 5% |
Computer Science | 1 | 5% |
Other | 1 | 5% |
Unknown | 7 | 35% |