What are randomised controlled trials good for?

作者: Nancy Cartwright

DOI: 10.1007/S11098-009-9450-2

关键词: CausalityExternal validityProbabilistic logicOutcome (game theory)Gold standardEpistemologyActuarial sciencePsychologyRandomized controlled trialCausal inference

摘要: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are widely taken as the gold standard for establishing causal conclusions. Ideally conducted they ensure that treatment ‘causes’ outcome—in experiment. But where else? This is venerable question of external validity. I point out comes in two importantly different forms: Is specific conclusion warranted by experiment true a target situation? What will be result implementing there? paper explains how probabilistic theory causality implies RCTs can establish conclusions and thereby provides an account what exactly is. Clarifying exact form shows just necessary it to hold new setting also much more needed see actual outcome would there were implemented.

参考文章(22)
Nancy Cartwright, Evidence-based policy: what’s to be done about relevance? Philosophical Studies. ,vol. 143, pp. 127- 136 ,(2009) , 10.1007/S11098-008-9311-4
Nancy Cartwright, The dappled world : a study of the boundaries of science Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ,(1999) , 10.1017/CBO9781139167093
John Worrall, What Evidence in Evidence‐Based Medicine? Philosophy of Science. ,vol. 69, ,(2002) , 10.1086/341855
JOHN DUPRÉ, Probabilistic Causality Emancipated Midwest Studies in Philosophy. ,vol. 9, pp. 169- 175 ,(1984) , 10.1111/J.1475-4975.1984.TB00058.X
Nancy Cartwright, How the laws of physics lie ,(1983)
Robert E. Lucas, Econometric policy evaluation: A critique Carnegie-Rochester Conference Series on Public Policy. ,vol. 1, pp. 19- 46 ,(1976) , 10.1016/S0167-2231(76)80003-6