Question 1

How epidemiologists determine causative and preventive factors involve a process known as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Causal inference is the process by which epidemiologists determine causative and preventive factors.

Question 2

Which philosophy, which has prevailed since the Scientific Revolution of the 1700s, emphasizes inductive inference-the formulation of explanatory hypotheses from making observations?

Accepted Answer

Empiricism emphasizes inductive inference, where knowledge is primarily derived from sensory experience and observations, leading to the formulation of hypotheses.

Question 3

Which doctrine states that knowledge accumulates through reason rather than observation?

Accepted Answer

Rationalism is the doctrine that knowledge is primarily gained through reason and logical deduction rather than sensory experience or observation.

Question 4

Which concept, which was first developed for infectious diseases, means that a cause should lead to a single effect and vice versa?

Accepted Answer

Specificity refers to the idea that a particular cause should lead to a specific effect, and a specific effect should be attributable to a particular cause. This concept was initially developed in the context of infectious diseases.

Question 5

Which of the following is the only one of Hill's guidelines about which there is complete agreement among epidemiologists?

Accepted Answer

Temporality is the only guideline that is universally agreed upon, as it is essential for establishing a cause-and-effect relationship; the cause must precede the effect.

Question 6

Rothman defined which of the following as a "complete causal mechanism" that inevitably produces disease?

Accepted Answer

A "sufficient cause" is defined by Rothman as a complete causal mechanism that inevitably produces disease.

Question 7

Critics of which guideline state that its absence implies only that the investigator is unimaginative, not that the association is noncausal?

Accepted Answer

Analogy is criticized because its absence does not necessarily mean that an association is noncausal; it may simply indicate a lack of imagination or knowledge on the part of the investigator to draw parallels with other known causal relationships.

Question 8

Causal inference is a simple process with no hard and fast rules.

Accepted Answer

Causal inference is a complex process that involves careful consideration of various factors, including confounding variables, and often requires sophisticated statistical methods and assumptions to draw valid conclusions.

Question 9

Falsifiability increases with the empirical content of the hypothesis.

Accepted Answer

Falsifiability refers to the ability of a hypothesis to be tested and potentially proven false. A hypothesis with more empirical content makes more specific predictions, increasing the opportunities for it to be tested and potentially falsified.

Question 10

Most "causes" of interest to epidemiologists are actually components of sufficient causes.

Accepted Answer

Epidemiologists often study component causes, which are factors that contribute to the development of a disease but are not sufficient on their own to cause the disease. These components are part of a larger set of factors that together form a sufficient cause for the disease.

Question 11

Which of the following, the third essential attribute of a cause, means that there is an asymmetrical relationship between cause and effect?

Accepted Answer

Direction refers to the asymmetrical relationship where the cause leads to the effect, but not vice versa.

Question 12

Which man introduced the idea that people became ill because of an imbalance in the four body humors: phlegm, yellow bile, blood, and black bile?

Accepted Answer

Hippocrates, an ancient Greek physician, introduced the theory of the four humors, which suggested that an imbalance in these bodily fluids caused illness.

Question 13

In the 1970s, Rothman presented a view of causation that has come to be known as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Rothman's view of causation is known as the Sufficient-Component Theory of Causation, which he introduced in the 1970s. This model explains that a disease can be caused by a combination of factors, each of which is a component of a sufficient cause.

Question 14

Prospective studies designs are best for providing evidence of which of the following because epidemiologists are usually sure that the cause preceded the occurrence of the disease in this type of study?

Accepted Answer

Temporality is the ability to determine the order of events in a cause-and-effect relationship. In prospective studies, researchers follow a group of people over time and collect data on their exposures and outcomes. This allows them to determine whether the exposure preceded the outcome, which is essential for establishing causality.

Question 15

Which of Hill's guidelines is a reprise of John Stuart Mill's "method of difference" canon, which states that A causes B if, all else being held uniform, a change in A leads to a subsequent change in B?

Accepted Answer

The "Experiment" guideline in Hill's criteria aligns with Mill's "method of difference," as it involves manipulating a variable (A) to observe if it causes a change in another variable (B), while keeping other conditions constant.

Question 16

Rothman defined which of the following as a "complete causal mechanism" that inevitably causes disease?

Accepted Answer

Rothman defined a "sufficient cause" as a complete causal mechanism that inevitably causes disease. It is a set of conditions or events that together result in the occurrence of a disease.

Question 17

True causes must exhibit which attribute?

Accepted Answer

The answer of True causes must exhibit which attribute?
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Question 18

During ancient times, concepts of causation were influenced mainly by people's religious beliefs.

Accepted Answer

Religious beliefs often shaped ancient people's understanding of causation, attributing events to the will of deities or supernatural forces.

Question 19

Although the presence of consistency may provide evidence of causality, its absence does not preclude causation.

Accepted Answer

Consistency in observations can strengthen the case for causality, but its absence doesn't rule out causation due to potential confounding factors or variations in study conditions.

Question 20

Experimental studies provide most of the epidemiological data for judging whether an association is causal.

Accepted Answer

Experimental studies, such as randomized controlled trials, are important for establishing causality, but most epidemiological data comes from observational studies, which are more common and practical for studying associations in real-world settings.

Quiz 15: The Epidemiologic Approach to Causation