Establishing causation involves multiple steps and criteria. One of the most widely used frameworks is the Bradford Hill Criteria, which includes:
1. Strength of Association: Stronger associations are more likely to be causal. 2. Consistency: The association is observed in different studies, populations, and settings. 3. Specificity: A specific exposure is associated with a specific outcome. 4. Temporality: The cause precedes the effect. 5. Biological Gradient: Greater exposure leads to a greater incidence of the effect. 6. Plausibility: The association is biologically plausible. 7. Coherence: The association is consistent with existing knowledge. 8. Experiment: Experimental evidence supports the association. 9. Analogy: Similar relationships have been observed with other exposures and outcomes.
