Causal Inference

Question 1

___ ___ is the process where we use statistical methods to characterize associations between variables involved.

Answer 1

Statistical association

Question 2

Statistical association could either be ___ or ___.

Answer 2

Positive or negative

Question 3

In statistical association, we are proving the statistical d___ between the two v___.

Answer 3

1. Dependence
2. Variables

Question 4

After statistical association, we will determine the c___ ___.

Answer 4

Causal relationship

Question 5

___ ___ is the process of ascribing causal relationships to associations between variables.

Answer 5

Causal inference

Question 6

What are the two types of association?

Answer 6

Causal and non-causal

Question 7

Under causal association, we also have d___ and i___ causation.

Answer 7

Direct and indirect causation

Question 8

A ___ is a factor that will play a potential role in producing an outcome.

Answer 8

Cause

Question 9

___ is an identifiable relationship between exposure and disease.

Answer 9

Association

Question 10

___ is presence of mechanism that leads from exposure to disease.

Answer 10

Cause

Question 11

___ is an alteration in the frequency or quality of one event followed by a change in the other.

Answer 11

Causal

Question 12

___ is when an association is a result of the relationship of both factor and disease with a third variable.

Answer 12

Non-causal

Question 13

In ___ causation, the alteration in factor A is directly related to the change in factor B.

Answer 13

Direct causation

Question 14

In ___ causation, there is another factor associated with the change of the outcome.

Answer 14

Indirect causation

Question 15

What is the first step in the process of causal inference?

Answer 15

Determine the validity of association

Question 16

By determining the ___ of the association, you rule out chance, bias, and confounding as explanation of observed association.

Answer 16

Validity

Question 17

Step 2: Detemine if the observed association is ___.

Answer 17

Causal

Question 18

In step 2, you consider the ___ of evidence taken from a number of sources.

Answer 18

Totality

Question 19

What are the two types of validity?

Answer 19

Internal and external validity

Question 20

___ validity is the validity within the study.

Answer 20

Internal validity

Question 21

___ validity is the validity beyond the study.

Answer 21

External validity

Question 22

In IV, estimate of effect measure is ___.

Answer 22

Accurate

Question 23

In EV, estimate of effect measure is generalizable to b___ ___.

Answer 23

Generalizable to bigger population.

Question 24

IV is not due to ___ error.

Answer 24

Systematic

Question 25

EV is **not** due to ___ error.

Answer 25

Random

Question 26

The **goal** of Epidemiologic studies is to **estimate the ___ of the p___ with l___ ___.**

Answer 26

1. Value 2. Parameter 3. Little error

Question 27

Random errors **come from** ___ errors.

Answer 27

Sampling errors

Question 28

The ___ ___ is the **difference between** population value and estimate value.

Answer 28

Random errors

Question 29

___ errors are biases and confounding.

Answer 29

Systematic errors

Question 30

**Systematic errors** are the ___ in the **estimation of the magnitude** of association between E and D.

Answer 30

Distortion

Question 31

What are the **three types of biases** in systematic errors?

Answer 31

1. Selection 2. Information 3. Confounding

Question 32

___ bias is choosing **non-representative sample.**

Answer 32

Selection

Question 33

___ bias is **inaccurate information from sample.**

Answer 33

Information

Question 34

In Information bias, the **misclassification** has d___ and n___.

Answer 34

Differential and non-differential

Question 35

Non-differential (random) **occurs when errors** are in ___ proportion in groups being compared.

Answer 35

Similar

Question 36

Differential (non-random) **occurs when rates of errors ___** in the groups being compared.

Answer 36

Differ

Question 37

What are the **sources of misclassification?**

Answer 37

1. Instrument 2. Subjects 3. Observers

Question 38

___ is **mixing** the effect of exposure on the disease with that of **the third factor.**

Answer 38

Confounding

Question 39

The **third variable** that is **related** to the exposure and outcome is called the ___.

Answer 39

Confounder

Question 40

The confounder is **also known as** a ___ ___ in the **development of disease.**

Answer 40

Risk factor

Question 41

When a confounder is **present,** the ___ **can't be the cause** of the outcome.

Answer 41

Exposure

Question 42

What are the **methods of controlling confounding?**

Answer 42

1. Design 2. Analysis

Question 43

R___ is to distribute confounders r___ between s___ ___.

Answer 43

1. Randomization 2. Randomly 3. Study groups

Question 44

R___ is to **restrict** the entry to study of ___.

Answer 44

1. Restriction 2. Confounders

Question 45

M___ aims for e___ ___ of confounders.

Answer 45

1. Matching 2. Equal distribution

Question 46

In S___ analysis, confounders are distributed **evenly** in each ___.

Answer 46

1. Stratified 2. Stratum

Question 47

M___ analysis **requires many statistical tests** to come up with good analysis.

Answer 47

Multivariate

Question 48

When determining if **observed association is causal,** we use ___ ___.

Answer 48

Hill's criteria

Question 49

In ___ ___ ___, the **higher the risk ratio, the more likely it is to be causal.**

Answer 49

Strength of association

Question 50

___ is the **temporal relationship;** the exposure preceeds the disease.

Answer 50

Temporality

Question 51

___ is about the **consistent findings** across designs, populations, investigators.

Answer 51

Consistency

Question 52

___ ___ does **not contradict** the natural history or biology of disease.

Answer 52

Theoretical plausibility