Online Content

1. Morris, Don, "Causal Inference in the Social Sciences: Variance Theory, Process Theory, and System Dynamics"

Type:
Document
Date Created:
2005 July 17-2005 July 21
Collection:
System Dynamic Society Records
Collecting Area:
University Archives
Collection ID:
ua435
Parent Record(s):
23d738ba88f8333bc39725f9cb5bd0b8, 3c582e6f5cf305ef0030c7471b499022, and cc5bb0ac12a5b68b26b1583548898dae
Thumbnail Path Ss:
/downloads/pc28b2368?file=thumbnail
System Modified Dtsi:
2020-01-02T19:34:35Z
Description:
The social sciences are in need of an alternative to the variance approach to causal inference, which—because it requires a counterfactual—restricts the claim of valid inference to conclusions drawn from experimental and quasi-experimental methods. Process theory proposes an alternative by way of demonstrating the presence of observable characteristics of the causal mechanism, a method that, while accepted in principle, has proven elusive in practice. It is suggested that system dynamics can improve the process approach, and in so doing open a path for itself to wider application in the social sciences. Educational research is suggested as a place to start, and results from two models drawn on topics from that field are offered as examples.