Reverse Causation

Reverse Causation

Reviewed by Faisal Zaidi

The arrow may run the other way. A measure that predicts an outcome well may do so because the outcome, or something upstream of both, produces the measure.

What it is

In observational research this is the objection that statistical adjustment reduces and almost never removes. It is not a reason to dismiss a finding. It is a reason to be careful about which part of a finding becomes advice.