On doing the "impossible": inferring that a putative causal relationship does not exist.
A simple heuristic is proposed for drawing a warranted inference that a causal relationship does not exist between two events. It is illustrated by a study of the putative indirect causal relationship between Autistic Disorder and the Fragile X syndrome. This study was designed to ensure that a failure to find such a relationship provided good reasons for concluding that it was unlikely there was a relationship between Autistic Disorder and the Fragile X syndrome.
Hall
W
W
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Kensington.
Einfeld
S
S
D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D005600:Fragile X Syndrome / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000235:genetics; D010686:Philosophy, Medical; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012729:Sex Chromosome Aberrations / Q000235:genetics*