Philosophical Foundations of Causation

Introduce yourself to the roots of causal thinking with Aristotle and Hume

Directed Acyclic Graphs

Learn how to map causal relationships visually for clinical decisions with clients and colleagues

Avoiding Hidden Biases

Understand how confounders and colliders impact associations and decision-making

About the Course

This course introduces the foundations of causal inference for practicing behavioral health providers. Dive into the critical distinction between association and causation and master the art of using directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) to guide clinical decisions. Gain insights into how causal reasoning can answer pivotal questions in service provision. No advanced statistical or mathematical background are required. This course uses qualitative learning through clinical examples and visual diagrams. Bring what you already have: your clinical expertise and experience.

About the Creator

Hello, I'm Dr. Shane Sparkes. In addition to having over twelve years of experience as a clinical social worker, I am a causal inference specialist with a PhD in Biostatistics. I created this course to help behavioral health providers like us navigate the complexities of cause and effect in clinical practice. Join me on this transformative learning journey where we unravel the philosophical foundations of causation and unlock the power of DAGs in clinical decision-making. No math background is necessary. You already have what you need.

Curriculum

7 Chapters · 27 Lessons

  1. 1

    Chapter 1: The Philosophy of Cause and Effect

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      1.1: What Do We Mean by "Cause"?

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      1.2: Hume’s Challenge — Do We Ever See Causation?

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Assignment 1: Philosophical Foundations

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Practice Quiz

  2. 2

    Chapter 2: Causation in Clinical Practice

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      2.1: Why Causation Matters for Clinicians

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      2.2: Importance of Visible Causal Reasoning

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Assignment 2: Your Causal Reasoning

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Practice Quiz

  3. 3

    Chapter 3: Introduction to Directed Acyclic Graphs

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      3.1: What Is a DAG?

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      3.2: Reading a DAG — Paths, Parents, and Children

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Assignment 3: DAG Fundamentals

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Practice Quiz

  4. 4

    Chapter 4: Confounding and Colliders

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      4.1: Confounding — The Hidden Common Cause

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      4.2: Colliders — When Conditioning Creates Bias

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Assignment 4: Confounders and Colliders in Practice

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Practice Quiz

  5. 5

    Chapter 5: DAGs for Clinical Decision Making

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      5.1: The Do-Operator — Thinking About Interventions

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      5.2: Backdoor Paths and the Backdoor Criterion

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Assignment 5: Do-Operator and Backdoor Criterion

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Practice Quiz

  6. 6

    Chapter 6: Putting It All Together in Review

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      6.1: Building a Clinical DAG from Case Formulation

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      6.2: Using Your DAG to Guide Treatment Decisions

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Assignment 6: Comprehensive Causal Inference Exercise

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Practice Quiz

  7. 7

    Conclusion

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Course Exam

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      References

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Book a Free Consultation

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