Causal Inference Fundamentals

What is the primary goal of conducting a randomized experiment?

To identify the correlation between the treatment and outcome
To identify the most effective treatment group
To generalize the results to the entire population
To establish causality between the treatment and outcome (correct)

What is the purpose of random treatment assignment in a randomized experiment?

To make the treatment and control groups identical in all observed characteristics (correct)
To ensure the control group receives a placebo
To ensure the treatment group has more participants than the control group
To increase the statistical power of the experiment

What is the fundamental problem of causal inference?

We can never observe the factual outcome
We can never measure the average causal effect
We can never observe the treatment variable
We can never observe the counterfactual outcome (correct)

What are the two main groups in a randomized experiment?

Experimental group and control group (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the key difference between the treatment and control groups in a randomized experiment?

The treatment group receives the treatment, while the control group does not (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of finding good approximations for the counterfactual outcomes?

To get around the fundamental problem of causal inference (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why is randomized treatment assignment important in an experiment?

To reduce bias in the sample selection (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the average causal effect of the treatment X on the outcome Y?

The average change in Y caused by a change in X for a group of individuals (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is required to obtain good approximations for the counterfactual outcomes?

The observations treated and untreated must be, at the aggregate level, similar with respect to all the variables that might affect the outcome (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the reason for focusing on the average causal effects rather than individual-level effects?

Because we can never observe the counterfactual outcome (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the factual outcome of one group in estimating the counterfactual outcome of the other?

It is used as a proxy for the counterfactual outcome (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of conducting surveys?

To infer the characteristics of a population based on a sample (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a representative sample in survey research?

A sample that accurately reflects the characteristics of the population (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to have a representative sample in survey research?

To make accurate inferences about the population characteristics (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical sample size for surveys in the US?

Around 1,000 people (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the sample and population sizes in surveys?

The sample size is always smaller than the population size (D) Signup and view all the answers

What would be the most effective way to draw a representative sample of UNC students?

Randomly select students from different departments (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the unit of measurement of â?

Points (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the interpretation of â in the context of the midterm and final exams?

The predicted final exam score when a student scores 0 points in the midterm (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the mathematical definition of â?

â is the Y when X=0 (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the interpretation of ^ß in the context of the midterm and final exams?

An increase in midterm scores of 1 point is associated with a predicted increase in final exam scores of ^ß points (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the mathematical definition of ^ß?

^ß is the Delta Y associated with Delta X=1 (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the sign of ^ß and the correlation between X and Y?

The sign of ^ß is the same as the correlation between X and Y (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main reason why sample statistics differ from population parameters?

Sampling variability occurs. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What happens to sampling variability when the sample size is decreased?

It increases. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the goal when trying to figure out the proportion of support among the whole population?

To make inferences about the population parameter. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What happens when you draw a random sample from the population multiple times?

You will get a different proportion of support each time. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What do the two large sample theorems help us understand?

The relationship between population parameters and sample statistics. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What can be used to draw conclusions about population parameters using data from just a sample?

The Central Limit Theorem. (C) Signup and view all the answers