Causal Inference in Generalizable Environments: Systematic Representative Design

“Causal Inference in Generalizable Environments: Systematic Representative Design” by Lynn C. Miller, Sonia Jawaid Shaikh, David C. Jeong, Liyuan Wang, Traci K. Gillig, Carlos G. Godoy, Paul R. Appleby, Charisse L. Corsbie-Massay, Stacy Marsella, John L. Christensen, and Stephen J. Read. Psychological Inquiry, vol. 30, no. 4, 2019, pp. 173-202, Routledge. PMID: 33093760.

Abstract

Causal inference and generalizability both matter. Historically, systematic designs emphasize causal inference, while representative designs focus on generalizability. Here, we suggest a transformative synthesis, Systematic Representative Design (SRD), concurrently enhancing both causal inference and built-in generalizability by leveraging todays intelligent agent, virtual environments, and other technologies. In SRD, a default control group (DCG) can be created in a virtual environment by representatively sampling from real-world situations. Experimental groups can be built with systematic manipulations onto the DCG base. Applying systematic design features (e.g., random assignment to DCG versus experimental groups) in SRD affords valid causal inferences. After explicating the proposed SRD synthesis, we delineate how the approach concurrently advances generalizability and robustness, cause-effect inference and precision science, a computationally-enabled cumulative psychological science supporting both bigger theory and concrete implementations grappling with tough questions (e.g., what is context) and affording rapidly-scalable interventions for real-world problems.

BibTeX entry:

@article{doi:10.1080/1047840X.2019.1693866,
   author = {Lynn C. Miller and Sonia Jawaid Shaikh and David C. Jeong and
	Liyuan Wang and Traci K. Gillig and Carlos G. Godoy and Paul R.
	Appleby and Charisse L. Corsbie-Massay and Stacy Marsella and John
	L. Christensen and Stephen J. Read},
   title = {Causal Inference in Generalizable Environments: Systematic
	Representative Design},
   journal = {Psychological Inquiry},
   volume = {30},
   number = {4},
   pages = {173-202},
   publisher = {Routledge},
   year = {2019},
   note = {PMID: 33093760},
   url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/1047840X.2019.1693866}
}

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