Question

What are the conditions that must exist for causal relationship? Use examples to discuss.

Answer 1

A causal relationship is a relationship of cause and effect, that variation in a variable causes changes in other variable. To establish that there is a causal relationship between the various variables the given conditions must be fulfilled:

• Time order or Temporal precedence: The relationship between variables are causal if the changes in independent variable occurs first and then causes changes in the dependent variable. Example- To study the effect of stress on sleep, there should be variation in the stress level that cause the sleep to increase and decrease accordingly.
• Co-variance: Changes in both the independent and dependent variable must occur simultaneously. That if changes in A variable doesn't cause in B variable it is not a causal relationship. Example- Any change in stress level must cause the sleep to increase or decrease to establish the causal relationship between stress and sleep.
• Nonspuriousness: This means that the co-variance between the variables must not occur because of the presence of an extraneous variable or a third variable. Example: If the changes in sleep that is increase or decrease in sleep is occurring due to fatigue then the causal relationship between stress and sleep cannot be established. Hence, it is necessary to eliminate the presence of third variable of fatigue to establish a causal relationship between stress and sleep.