Direct and indirect causal effects via potential outcomes
Direct and indirect causal effects via potential outcomes
复制标题
DOI：
10.1111/j.1467-9469.2004.02-123.x
复制
发表时间：
2004-06-01
影响因子：
1
通讯作者：
Rubin, DB
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Rubin, DB
使用“直接”与“间接”因果效应的概念是常见的，不仅在统计学中，而且在社会和经济科学的许多领域。相关术语“生物标志物”和“替代物”在药理学和生物医学科学中很常见。有时这个概念是由各种图形显示表示。这里的观点是，围绕这一主题有大量不精确的讨论，此外，澄清情况的最直接方法是使用潜在结果来定义因果效应。特别是，我认为，主要分层的使用是理解直接和间接因果效应的意义的关键。一项目前对炭疽疫苗的研究将被用来说明这些想法。
The use of the concept of 'direct' versus 'indirect' causal effects is common, not only in statistics but also in many areas of social and economic sciences. The related terms of 'biomarkers' and 'surrogates' are common in pharmacological and biomedical sciences. Sometimes this concept is represented by graphical displays of various kinds. The view here is that there is a great deal of imprecise discussion surrounding this topic and, moreover, that the most straightforward way to clarify the situation is by using potential outcomes to define causal effects. In particular, I suggest that the use of principal stratification is key to understanding the meaning of direct and indirect causal effects. A current study of anthrax vaccine will be used to illustrate ideas.