Causal Analysis in Theory and Practice

September 23, 2009

Differences Induced by Adding Covariates

Filed under: Opinion — moderator @ 3:00 am

Donald Klein writes:

Unfortunately, much of this is over my head. As a practicing trialist the apparent disagreements re managements of # of covariates in ANCOVA seems important but I can’t find a reference to an actual trial where these alternative analyses produced different results. Even a model trial would be helpful to show the import of these theoretical differences.

Similarly with regard to missing data , which turns the experimental randomization towards a naturalistic study.

Cordially,

Don Klein

September 11, 2009

Recent Activities in Causality

Filed under: Announcement,Book (J Pearl),Discussion — moderator @ 4:00 am

Judea Pearl writes:

Dear colleagues in causality research,

  1. I am pleased to announce that the 2nd Edition of Causality is out now (I saw a real copy), and should hit your bookstore any day. Thanks for waiting patiently, and I apologize for not having books to sign at the JSM meeting in DC.
  2. You may be pleased to know that, after a long and heated discussion on Andrew Gelman’s website, a provisional resolution (truce?) has been declared on the question: Is there such a thing as overadjustment? Click for details…
  3. A new survey paper, gently summarizing everything I know about causation (in 40 pages) is now posted. Comments are welcome.
  4. A new paper answering the question: “When are two measurements equally valuable for effect estimation?” has been posted. Confession: It is really a neat result.

Wishing you a fruitful new school year and may clarity reign in causality land.

=======Judea Pearl

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