Causal Designs
Campbell-Style Causal Designs
Use design structure and threats-to-validity reasoning to evaluate causal claims.
Page 1 of 7 · Big Picture
The big picture: Campbell-Style Causal Designs
What design makes a causal comparison credible?
Why a policy analyst should care
Design features such as randomization, comparison groups, and repeated observations address different threats to validity; no statistical adjustment repairs every weak design.
Follow the idea from the opening question to a practical decision. These are the conceptual moves this module will develop:
1 Question What design makes a causal comparison credible?
2 Explore Compare common policy designs
3 Formalize Design determines which threats remain
4 Transfer Defend a Campbell-style design
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