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On Lord's Paradox ANCOVA

Author(s):
Holland, Paul W.; Rubin, Donald B.
Publication Year:
1982
Report Number:
RR-82-36
Source:
ETS Research Report
Document Type:
Report
Page Count:
41
Subject/Key Words:
Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA), Data Analysis, Lord, Frederic M., Mathematical Models, Statistical Analysis

Abstract

Lord's Paradox is analyzed in terms of a simple mathematical model for causal inference. The resolution of Lord's Paradox from this perspective has two aspects. First, the descriptive, non-causal conclusions of the two hypothetical statisticians are both correct. They appear contradictory only because they describe quite different aspects of the data. Second, the causal inferences of the statisticians are neither correct nor incorrect since they are based on different assumptions that our mathematical model makes explicit but neither assumption can be tested using the data set that is described in the example. We identify these differing assumptions and show how each may be used to justify the differing causal conclusions of the two statisticians. In addition to analyzing the classic "diet" example which Lord used to introduce his paradox, we also examine three other examples that appear in the three papers where Lord discusses the paradox and related matters. (41pp.)

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