Causal criteria and the problem of complex causation

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Health Sciences
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Causality is a central focus in social and health science research.
• Much research relies on observational data, not experimental data with random assignment.
• A key challenge is making warranted causal claims from non-experimental data.

Purpose of the Study:

• Examine the use of causal criteria for warranting causal claims.
• Investigate the reliability of causal criteria with observational data.
• Assess the impact of complex causation on etiological inferences.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of causal criteria commonly used in epidemiology.
• Examination of complex causation, including causal overdetermination and preemption.
• Review of methods for making etiological inferences from observational data.

Main Results:

• Causal criteria are widely used in health and social sciences.
• Complex causation, specifically overdetermination and preemption, undermines causal criteria.
• Warranting causal claims from observational data using causal criteria is problematic.

Conclusions:

• The use of causal criteria to warrant causal claims is challenged by complex causation.
• Observational data presents significant difficulties for etiological inferences using causal criteria.
• Rethinking methods for causal inference from observational data is necessary.