Categories → Causal Inference , Statistics , Study Design
An independent variable is typically the treatment which is manipulated in an experiment; the dependent variable is an outcome affected by the treatment.
In causal inference, the independent variable is often called the Treatment and the dependent variable is the Outcome.
Independent and dependent variables are often used in associative statistics, where a correlation or association between them does not imply a causal relationship.
The concept of independent and dependent variables is particularly important in the context of causal inference, where we are interested in determining whether changes in one variable cause changes in another variable. To establish causality, we typically need to manipulate the independent variable (treatment) while keeping other variables constant and observe whether the dependent variable (outcome) changes as a result.
For example, consider a study in which we want to determine whether a new medication improves cognitive function in older adults. In this case, the independent variable is the medication, and the dependent variable is cognitive function. We would randomly assign participants to receive either the medication or a placebo and then measure their cognitive function before and after the intervention. If we observe a significant improvement in cognitive function in the medication group compared to the placebo group, we can infer that the medication caused the improvement.
It is important to note that in some cases, there may be other variables that influence the relationship between the independent and dependent variable. These variables are called confounding variables, and they can make it difficult to establish causality. In such cases, researchers may use statistical techniques such as regression analysis or propensity score matching to control for these variables and strengthen their causal inference (both are available in Causal Wizard and will be used as needed).
In Causal Wizard, the Independent variable is always described as the Treatment and the Dependent variable is the Outcome.