Causal Reasoning

Abstract: Does excessive exposure to violent video games cause violent behavior? Does increased gun availability cause more crime or less? Causal claims permeate everyday life and are constantly the subject of "studies" reported in the newspaper. The material in Causal and Statistical Reasoning examines the nature of causal claims and the statistical sorts of evidence used to support them. The material is contained in: approximately 20 content modules, a repository of over 100 short case studies, and a "Causality Lab" that allows students to simulate the work a social scientist does in trying to discover what causes what from data. The material is meant to be used for three related purposes. One, it is meant for students who will only take one such overview of research methods course in service of consuming the newspaper intelligently and critically. Two, it is meant for students who will take a few statistics courses in order that they have an appropriate qualitative conceptual framework within which to learn statistical ideas, and three, it is meant for students interested in the foundations of quantitative causal models: called Bayes Networks. By adjusting the set of modules, cases, and causality lab exercises covered, professors and students can tailor the experience accordingly. The OLI project teaches annual summer workshops for faculty who are interested in learning how to integrate the material into their courses.