Causal Inference: What If (Hardback)

"With this clear rigorous, and readable presentation of models for causal inference using potential outcomes and counterfactuals, Hernan and Robins have provided a text that will be useful and enjoyable for students, practitioners, and researchers in statistics and applied fields." - Andrew Gelman, Columbia University, USA“This is the definitive book on modeling causal effects and conducting statistical inference with the resulting models, invaluable both as teaching and reference resource. It brings together a vast range of developments over recent decades in a well-organized manner, with exceptionally clear descriptions of the models, methods, emphasizing their motivations in scientific questions and goals. Especially valuable are the careful links drawn from everyday notions of causal and selection effects to modern causal models, including models for estimating and optimizing effects of chronic treatments – those administered over sustained periods of time, as are now standard in modern preventive medicine.” – Sander Greenland, Emeritus Professor of Epidemiology and Statistics, University of California Los Angeles"This is the most eagerly anticipated book ever in its field. It provides a lean, readable, comprehensive and coherent formulation of methods for strengthening causal inference in (largely) non-experimental data. In crystal clear language it takes the reader through the logic and practice of setting up and analysing a causal question, and, if taken literally, should reveal the many situations when the data available to the investigator do not provide an adequate basis for asking specific causal questions. It provides the ideal core text for a course on causal inference that will be of relevance to many disciplines. The book has been carefully hewn over a decade through public scrutiny, response and revision, with drafts having been made available on-line and, in addition to the fabulous content, it will surely be seen as a truly innovative model for future book production. Because of its unique pre-publication history it has become a citation classic over the last 10 years. I can think of few epidemiologists who will not want to own their own copy of this book, and this will likely apply to investigators in many other fields." – George Davey Smith FRS, Director of the Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit (IEU), University of Bristol, UK"Hernán and Robins have contributed enormously to the concepts and methods of causal inference. Now their unique collaboration has culminated in an invaluable gift to any researcher in the biomedical or social sciences, a Rosetta Stone for causal inference. The ideas are gathered from myriad sources in diverse disciplines, and woven into one coherent package of logical exposition. In part I, Causal Inference Without Models, they elucidate how to frame a causal question so that it is answerable, while spotlighting the assumptions needed to reach a correct inference. In part II, they progress to using parametric modeling, and in part III they explore the intricacies of evaluating causal questions using complex longitudinal data. The language, reflecting the thinking, is direct and clear. With this work, they have performed a great service for generations of students and researchers." - Kenneth Rothman, Boston University, USA"Anyone interested in data science and machine learning should read this book. To form valid models of the world from data, understanding causal inference is critical. They’ve provided a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the topic." - Suchi Saria, John Hopkins University, USA