Criteria To Establish Causal Associations Discussion Paper
Question
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), obesity is a rising problem in Oman. Statistics show that 53.2 per cent of Omani men and 54.1 per cent of Omani women are overweight. Health scientists are pointing the blame on the Omani’s sugar consumption and lack of exercise as contributing factors to obesity.
Discussion:
Discuss the necessary criteria in order to establish causal associations between 2 events.
Discuss the criteria of causality you can infer from the above example of obesity, diet and exercise.
Expert Answer
This solution was written by a subject matter expert. It’s designed to help students like you learn core concepts. Criteria To Establish Causal Associations Discussion Paper
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Criteria to Establish Causal Associations: Establishing causal associations between two events requires rigorous scientific investigation, including the following criteria: Temporal relationship: There must be a clear temporal relationship between the two events. This means that the cause must occur before the effect. Strength of association: The relationship between the two events must be strong and statistically significant. The stronger the association, the more likely it is that the cause is responsible for the effect. Dose-response relationship: A dose-response relationship means that the effect increases as the dose or exposure to the cause increases.
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Consistency: The relationship between the two events must be consistent across different populations and settings. Specificity: The cause must be specific to the effect. If the cause is present, then the effect should also be present. Plausibility: The causal relationship must be biologically plausible and supported by scientific evidence. Coherence: The causal relationship must be consistent with existing knowledge and theories. Reversibility: The effect should be reversible if the cause is removed.
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Criteria of Causality in the Example of Obesity, Diet, and Exercise: In the example provided, we can infer the following criteria of causality: Temporal relationship: The lack of exercise and high sugar consumption are likely to occur before the onset of obesity, establishing a temporal relationship. Strength of association: High sugar consumption and lack of exercise have been identified as major contributing factors to obesity. The high prevalence of overweight among Omani men and women provides evidence for a strong association. Criteria To Establish Causal Associations Discussion Paper
Explanation:
Dose-response relationship: Evidence suggests that the risk of obesity increases with increasing sugar consumption and lack of exercise, indicating a dose-response relationship. Consistency: The high prevalence of overweight in Oman is consistent with global trends, indicating consistency across different populations and settings. Specificity: Obesity has been linked to specific lifestyle factors, such as high sugar consumption and lack of exercise. Plausibility: The link between obesity and lifestyle factors such as high sugar consumption and lack of exercise is biologically plausible and supported by scientific evidence.
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Coherence: The link between obesity and lifestyle factors such as high sugar consumption and lack of exercise is consistent with existing knowledge and theories. Reversibility: Evidence suggests that changes in diet and exercise can lead to weight loss and reversal of obesity, indicating that the effect is reversible.
Final answer
The above 8 are the main Criteria to Establish Causal Associations:
Criteria To Establish Causal Associations Discussion Paper