Quote:
|
then how DO you prove a causational effect between two variables?
|
My guess us that in the kind of research you would be doing where you are measuring simple correlations you can't prove a causal relationship.
But, if you've got a theory: F=ma.
Take a mass, apply a bunch of different F's to it. Measure the a's. Plot the results. Find that yes, indeed, 'F' is proportional to 'a' by a constant 'm' which turns out to be a property of the mass which we can also measure with a scale.
The data supports the theory, and insofar as the theory is correct, F caused a.
Strictly speaking, you can never prove a theory to be true beyond a shadow of a doubt, but you can demonstrate its validity to such a high degree that it would be silly to doubt the accuracy of the theory.