SOCI 328 Lecture 15: SOCI 328 lecture 15.pdf
Document Summary
We can establish that a relationship between two variables, of a certain nature and strength exists in a sample. We can establish that a relationship between two variables (of some kind or other), likely exists in a population from which a sample is drawn. We have reason to believe that x causes y when: There is a relationship/association between x and y. We have a plausible explanatory rationale for the causal link. X causally influences y directly (x - - - > y) E. g. we think that smoking causes lung cancer. X1 causally influences x2, which then causally influences y (x1 - - - > x2 - - - > X2 is referred to as a "mediating" or "intervening" variable between x1 and. E. g. we think that wealthier people are less likely than poorer people to have high blood pressure due to the mediating role of stress. That is, stress "explains" the relationship between wealth and blood pressure.
