Re: Mechanisms are Needed to Explain Cohen's Data

["Kockberg" <kockberg@telia.com>]

----- Original Message ----- 

From: "Ted Rockwell" <tedrock@CPCUG.ORG>

To: "Kai Kaletsch" <info@eic.nu>; "RadSafe" <radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu>

Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2002 4:35 PM

Subject: RE: Mechanisms are Needed to Explain Cohen's Data





> > The point is that the mechanism is all-important.

> 

> Of course, it's always nice to really understand the mechanism.  But the

> whole practice of medicine involves having little understanding of

> mechanisms, but having to go on and make decisions anyway.

> 

> Cohen is not working with a computer model which he then has to try to fit

> to a larger population.  He measured the population itself, albeit with

> averages.  His is a picture of what happens to real people in their homes.

> Other data is valid to the extent it agrees with the real picture he

> measured.  It does not depend on understanding the mechanisms.

> 

> TR

> 

> 

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> 

Without the mechanism, IMO all you have is co-variance, not correlation.

If you do not have causality (the mechanism) you do not have correlation, IMO.

Regards

Dr K

Svein Kockberg

Täby, Sweden





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