List and then discuss the three criteria for causality. Why do all three criteria need to be addressed for causality to be considered?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Ans: Three criteria are correlation, time order, and non-spuriousness. Correlation means that the variables we are studying are related to each other. In other words, the changes in our independent variable should go hand in hand with the changes in the dependent variable. Correlation establishes an association, some form of obvious systematic relationship between variables, but it does not prove that the independent variable is causing the changes in the dependent variable. Correlation is simply an association between the independent and the dependent variable, but it is not sufficient to prove causality. To be able to prove causality, we need to look at the second criterion, time order. Time order determines the actual order of changes from one variable to another. If the changes in the independent variable happen first in time and are accompanied by the changes in the dependent variable happening later in time, we can say that the criterion of time order is fulfilled, and it is clear that the changes in the dependent variable occur after those of the independent variable. In order for us to be able to claim nomothetic causality, we need to have a relationship that is non-spurious, which is the third criterion of being able to claim causality.