PSYC1040 – Week 2A: From Claims to Causal Inference

Описание: In this lecture, we move from identifying psychological claims to evaluating whether those claims are actually justified.

Many studies report associations.
Far fewer justify causal conclusions.

In Week 2A, we examine what must be true before we can infer that one variable causes another. We unpack the logic of causal inference and introduce key threats that can mislead even careful researchers:

• Confounding variables
• Selection effects
• Reverse causation
• History and maturation effects

We will also examine a real contemporary debate in psychology — the disagreement between Jonathan Haidt and Amy Orben about social media and adolescent mental health — to see how researchers can look at similar evidence yet reach different conclusions.

By the end of this lecture, you should be able to:

• Distinguish correlation from causation
• Identify alternative explanations for observed relationships
• Explain why causal claims require stronger designs than observational studies
• Articulate what evidence is needed before drawing causal conclusions

This video includes pause prompts. When prompted, stop the video and write your response before continuing. Active reasoning is essential for developing scientific judgment.

Workshop this week will focus on diagnosing causal claims and identifying threats to inference.