The Effective Statistician - in association with PSI

Behind the Scenes of Writing a Book About Casual Inference

Feb 17, 2025

In this engaging discussion, statistician Justin Belair shares his journey in writing about causal inference. He highlights the challenges of balancing technical writing with consulting work, emphasizing the need for a distraction-free environment. Justin reveals the importance of practical applications alongside theory and inspires with insights on effective writing strategies. He also explores the role of AI tools in enhancing writing while preserving an author's voice. Ideal for statisticians and aspiring authors, this conversation is packed with valuable takeaways!

23:15

Creator website

Episode guests

Justin Belair

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Causal inference is crucial for accurately determining relationships between variables, with methods like randomized trials and observational analysis.

Writing a book on causal inference involves overcoming challenges relating to the complexity of the material and structuring content effectively.

Deep dives

Understanding Causal Inference

Causal inference is essential in uncovering relationships between variables in statistics, impacting fields such as epidemiology and clinical trials. Justin elaborates on two primary methods to identify causal relationships: the experimental method through randomized trials and observational methods that analyze real-world data. He emphasizes the complications that arise in observational studies, such as confounding and selection bias, which can misrepresent true causal links. By applying specific statistical techniques like adjustment and propensity score methods, statisticians can enhance their analyses and draw more accurate conclusions from available data.

Intro

2min

Navigating Causal Inference: A Journey of Discovery

11min

Balancing Writing and Work

4min

Enhancing Writing with AI Tools

3min

Exploring LaTeX and Causal Inference Resources

3min

Interview with Justin Belair

Key points:

Causal Inference – Hot topic in statistics
Justin Belair – Guest, statistician, book author
Book Writing – Motivation, challenges, process
Balancing Content – Theory, real-world applications, coding exercises
Effective Writing – Strategies, focus, overcoming obstacles
Practical Tools – Applying causal inference in work
Inspiration – Insights for statisticians and aspiring authors
Tune In – Engaging discussion, learning opportunity

Writing a book on a complex topic like causal inference takes dedication, clarity, and a deep understanding of both theory and practice.

In this episode, Justin Belair shares his journey, insights, and practical strategies for mastering causal inference and making statistical concepts more accessible. Whether you're a statistician, data scientist, or simply curious about this evolving field, you’ll gain valuable takeaways that can enhance your work.

Don’t miss out—tune in now to hear our full conversation! And if you found this episode helpful, share it with your friends and colleagues who could benefit from Justin’s insights.

I’m thrilled to share that my book, “How to Be an Effective Statistician – Volume 1”, is now available!

It’s packed with insights to help statisticians, data scientists, and quantitative professionals excel as leaders, collaborators, and change-makers in healthcare and medicine.

Check out the testimonials and grab your copy!

Boost Your Leadership with MDLC!

The Medical Data Leaders Community (MDLC) gives you the tools and support to grow your leadership skills, expand your influence, and drive meaningful change in healthcare research. Whether you're just starting or already leading a team, this community helps you take your career to the next level

Learn more here!

Don’t miss out—tune in now to hear our full conversation! And if you found this episode helpful, share it with your friends and colleagues who could benefit from Justin’s insights.

Check out his book here:

Causal Inference in Statistics with Exercises, Practice Projects, and R Code Notebooks

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more