eprintid: 30690
rev_number: 15
eprint_status: archive
userid: 6254
dir: disk0/00/03/06/90
datestamp: 2021-12-02 13:36:08
lastmod: 2021-12-15 13:41:49
status_changed: 2021-12-02 13:36:08
type: doctoralThesis
metadata_visibility: show
creators_name: Gabel, Frank
title: Empirical Methods for Causal Inference
subjects: ddc-610
divisions: i-910800
adv_faculty: af-05
keywords: Instrumentalvariablen, Differenzen-in-Differenzen, Interrupted Time Series
cterms_swd: Zahn-, Mund- und Kieferheilkunde
cterms_swd: Zahnkrankheit
cterms_swd: Epidemiologe
cterms_swd: Krankheitsverbreitung
abstract: This dissertation reflects the use of various methods of causal inference using observational data based on three articles in health economics and epidemiology. These case studies encompass analyses of the implementation of a quality improvement framework in UK primary care (using Differencein-differences), the analysis of the impact of bearing children on oral health (using Instrumental Variables) and the analysis of an implementation of
altered provider incentives in the Danish dental care system (using Interrupted Time Series Analysis). All of these make use of methods utilizing quasi-experiments that allow post-hoc derivation of causal effects if certain identifying assumptions are met. Disregarding causality in empirical research altogether exposes results to the risk of enormous biases and false interpretations. This is arguably problematic as expressing the simple causal relationship between two variables X and Y statistically is not possible in an explicit manner - a problem known as the "fundamental problem of causality" where only one of multiple possible outcomes manifests in the real world.
This thesis offers a remedy to this problem by showcasing how the causal frameworks of Pearl, Campbell and Rubin may contribute to causal argumentation and ultimately more robust research.
date: 2021
id_scheme: DOI
id_number: 10.11588/heidok.00030690
ppn_swb: 1782269061
own_urn: urn:nbn:de:bsz:16-heidok-306905
date_accepted: 2021-10-20
advisor: HASH(0x559e37d42988)
language: eng
bibsort: GABELFRANKEMPIRICALM2021
full_text_status: public
place_of_pub: Heidelberg
citation:   Gabel, Frank  (2021) Empirical Methods for Causal Inference.  [Dissertation]     
document_url: https://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/volltextserver/30690/1/dissertation_Gabel.pdf