Conference Program Home
  My Program

All Times EDT

Abstract Details

Activity Number: 362 - Causal Inference for Undergraduates: Teaching Correlation Does Not Imply Students Understand Causal Inference
Type: Invited
Date/Time: Wednesday, August 10, 2022 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
Sponsor: Section on Statistics and Data Science Education
Abstract #319280
Title: Causal Inference Throughout the Statistics Curriculum
Author(s): Leslie Myint*
Companies: Macalester College
Keywords: causal inference; education; causal graphs; study design
Abstract:

Causal questions abound in everyday life, but the rote mantra of "Correlation does not imply causation" that is routinely taught in statistics courses leaves students wanting. If this caution is invoked at every turn, students may understandably wonder whether statistics is able to answer questions that interest them. My teaching in the area of causal inference has been guided by an emphatic desire to unseat this mindset. In this talk, I will discuss the concepts that I cover in a standalone capstone level causal inference course as well as causal ideas that I carry over to introductory and intermediate level courses in the statistics curriculum. My goal is to promote discussion among statistics educators about what causal ideas are most essential for students to grasp to be thriving members of society.


Authors who are presenting talks have a * after their name.

Back to the full JSM 2022 program