polkuanalyysiin

Polkuanalyysi, or path analysis, is a statistical technique used to estimate the causal relationships among a set of observed variables. It is a special case of structural equation modeling (SEM) where all variables are measured without error. The core idea of polkuanalyysi is to represent hypothesized causal relationships as a series of directed paths, where one variable directly influences another.

In polkuanalyysi, researchers specify a model that illustrates the proposed causal flow between variables. This model is often depicted using diagrams where arrows represent direct effects. The analysis then uses correlation or covariance matrices to estimate the strength and significance of these direct and indirect causal effects. Direct effects are the relationships where one variable is hypothesized to directly cause another. Indirect effects occur when a variable influences another through a mediator variable.

The primary goal of polkuanalyysi is to test the plausibility of a theoretical causal model against empirical data. By examining the estimated path coefficients, researchers can infer the extent to which the proposed causal structure is supported by the observed relationships between variables. It is important to note that polkuanalyysi, like other causal inference methods, relies on strong theoretical assumptions and the establishment of temporal precedence, covariation, and the elimination of alternative explanations for observed relationships. While it can provide insights into causal mechanisms, it does not definitively prove causation.