Prediction Causal Inference Basics MCQ Questions with Answers (Latest 2026)

Q1. Which option best describes causal inference?

A. Pure regression fitting. B. Pure correlation analysis. C. Pure clustering. D. Estimating effect of an intervention on outcomes.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Estimating effect of an intervention on outcomes.

Here, Estimating effect of an intervention on outcomes. is the right choice. Goes beyond correlation. It aligns directly with what the question asks about which option best describes causal inference. A quick elimination of partially true options helps confirm it.

Q2. What is the primary purpose of causal inference?

A. Pure clustering. B. Pure regression fitting. C. Pure correlation analysis. D. Estimating effect of an intervention on outcomes.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Estimating effect of an intervention on outcomes.

In this case, Estimating effect of an intervention on outcomes. is correct. Goes beyond correlation. It aligns directly with what the question asks about what is the primary purpose of causal inference. A quick elimination of partially true options helps confirm it.

Q3. Which statement about causal inference is most accurate?

A. Estimating effect of an intervention on outcomes. B. Pure correlation analysis. C. Pure clustering. D. Pure regression fitting.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Estimating effect of an intervention on outcomes.

The best option here is Estimating effect of an intervention on outcomes.. Goes beyond correlation. It aligns directly with what the question asks about which statement about causal inference is most accurate. A quick elimination of partially true options helps confirm it.

Q4. How is causal inference best characterized?

A. Pure regression fitting. B. Pure correlation analysis. C. Estimating effect of an intervention on outcomes. D. Pure clustering.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Estimating effect of an intervention on outcomes.

For this question, Estimating effect of an intervention on outcomes. is correct. Goes beyond correlation. It aligns directly with what the question asks about how is causal inference best characterized. A quick elimination of partially true options helps confirm it.

Q5. Which option best describes the potential outcomes framework?

A. Always observe both outcomes. B. Pure regression coefficients only. C. Pure correlations. D. Compare outcomes under treatment vs control.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Compare outcomes under treatment vs control.

Compare outcomes under treatment vs control. is the correct answer here. Foundational concept. It aligns directly with what the question asks about which option best describes the potential outcomes framework. A quick elimination of partially true options helps confirm it.

Q6. What is the primary purpose of the potential outcomes framework?

A. Always observe both outcomes. B. Pure regression coefficients only. C. Pure correlations. D. Compare outcomes under treatment vs control.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Compare outcomes under treatment vs control.

Here, Compare outcomes under treatment vs control. is the right choice. Foundational concept. This matches the core idea being tested around what is the primary purpose of the potential. A quick elimination of partially true options helps confirm it.

Q7. Which statement about the potential outcomes framework is most accurate?

A. Pure correlations. B. Compare outcomes under treatment vs control. C. Always observe both outcomes. D. Pure regression coefficients only.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Compare outcomes under treatment vs control.

In this case, Compare outcomes under treatment vs control. is correct. Foundational concept. This matches the core idea being tested around which statement about the potential outcomes framework is. A quick elimination of partially true options helps confirm it.

Q8. How is the potential outcomes framework best characterized?

A. Compare outcomes under treatment vs control. B. Pure correlations. C. Always observe both outcomes. D. Pure regression coefficients only.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Compare outcomes under treatment vs control.

The best option here is Compare outcomes under treatment vs control.. Foundational concept. This matches the core idea being tested around how is the potential outcomes framework best characterized. A quick elimination of partially true options helps confirm it.

Q9. Which option best describes a counterfactual?

A. A control mean. B. Observed outcome. C. A baseline metric. D. What would have happened under different treatment.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: What would have happened under different treatment.

For this question, What would have happened under different treatment. is correct. Never directly observed. This matches the core idea being tested around which option best describes a counterfactual. A quick elimination of partially true options helps confirm it.

Q10. What is the primary purpose of a counterfactual?

A. A baseline metric. B. A control mean. C. Observed outcome. D. What would have happened under different treatment.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: What would have happened under different treatment.

What would have happened under different treatment. is the correct answer here. Never directly observed. This matches the core idea being tested around what is the primary purpose of a counterfactual. A quick elimination of partially true options helps confirm it.

Q11. Which statement about a counterfactual is most accurate?

A. What would have happened under different treatment. B. Observed outcome. C. A control mean. D. A baseline metric.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: What would have happened under different treatment.

Here, What would have happened under different treatment. is the right choice. Never directly observed. That is exactly the concept behind which statement about a counterfactual is most accurate in this context. A quick elimination of partially true options helps confirm it.

Q12. How is a counterfactual best characterized?

A. A baseline metric. B. What would have happened under different treatment. C. Observed outcome. D. A control mean.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: What would have happened under different treatment.

In this case, What would have happened under different treatment. is correct. Never directly observed. That is exactly the concept behind how is a counterfactual best characterized in this context. A quick elimination of partially true options helps confirm it.

Q13. Which option best describes ATE?

A. Pure correlation. B. Variance of outcomes. C. Average treatment effect across population. D. Pure regression intercept.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Average treatment effect across population.

The best option here is Average treatment effect across population.. Common estimand. That is exactly the concept behind which option best describes ate in this context. A quick elimination of partially true options helps confirm it.

Q14. What is the primary purpose of ATE?

A. Average treatment effect across population. B. Pure regression intercept. C. Pure correlation. D. Variance of outcomes.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Average treatment effect across population.

For this question, Average treatment effect across population. is correct. Common estimand. That is exactly the concept behind what is the primary purpose of ate in this context. A quick elimination of partially true options helps confirm it.

Q15. Which statement about ATE is most accurate?

A. Pure regression intercept. B. Pure correlation. C. Average treatment effect across population. D. Variance of outcomes.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Average treatment effect across population.

Average treatment effect across population. is the correct answer here. Common estimand. That is exactly the concept behind which statement about ate is most accurate in this context. A quick elimination of partially true options helps confirm it.

Q16. How is ATE best characterized?

A. Pure correlation. B. Average treatment effect across population. C. Pure regression intercept. D. Variance of outcomes.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Average treatment effect across population.

Here, Average treatment effect across population. is the right choice. Common estimand. It fits the requirement in the prompt about how is ate best characterized. A quick elimination of partially true options helps confirm it.

Q17. Which option best describes ATT?

A. Average treatment effect on the treated. B. CATE. C. ATE. D. Variance of outcome.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Average treatment effect on the treated.

In this case, Average treatment effect on the treated. is correct. Subgroup estimand. It fits the requirement in the prompt about which option best describes att. A quick elimination of partially true options helps confirm it.

Q18. What is the primary purpose of ATT?

A. Variance of outcome. B. ATE. C. Average treatment effect on the treated. D. CATE.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Average treatment effect on the treated.

The best option here is Average treatment effect on the treated.. Subgroup estimand. It fits the requirement in the prompt about what is the primary purpose of att. A quick elimination of partially true options helps confirm it.

Q19. Which statement about ATT is most accurate?

A. Average treatment effect on the treated. B. ATE. C. CATE. D. Variance of outcome.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Average treatment effect on the treated.

For this question, Average treatment effect on the treated. is correct. Subgroup estimand. It fits the requirement in the prompt about which statement about att is most accurate. A quick elimination of partially true options helps confirm it.

Q20. How is ATT best characterized?

A. Average treatment effect on the treated. B. Variance of outcome. C. CATE. D. ATE.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Average treatment effect on the treated.

Average treatment effect on the treated. is the correct answer here. Subgroup estimand. It fits the requirement in the prompt about how is att best characterized. A quick elimination of partially true options helps confirm it.

Q21. Which option best describes CATE?

A. Conditional ATE given covariates. B. ATT. C. ATE. D. Variance of outcome.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Conditional ATE given covariates.

Here, Conditional ATE given covariates. is the right choice. Heterogeneous effects. This is the most accurate statement for which option best describes cate. A quick elimination of partially true options helps confirm it.

Q22. What is the primary purpose of CATE?

A. Variance of outcome. B. ATE. C. ATT. D. Conditional ATE given covariates.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Conditional ATE given covariates.

In this case, Conditional ATE given covariates. is correct. Heterogeneous effects. This is the most accurate statement for what is the primary purpose of cate. A quick elimination of partially true options helps confirm it.

Q23. Which statement about CATE is most accurate?

A. ATE. B. Conditional ATE given covariates. C. Variance of outcome. D. ATT.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Conditional ATE given covariates.

The best option here is Conditional ATE given covariates.. Heterogeneous effects. This is the most accurate statement for which statement about cate is most accurate. A quick elimination of partially true options helps confirm it.

Q24. How is CATE best characterized?

A. ATT. B. ATE. C. Variance of outcome. D. Conditional ATE given covariates.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Conditional ATE given covariates.

For this question, Conditional ATE given covariates. is correct. Heterogeneous effects. This is the most accurate statement for how is cate best characterized. A quick elimination of partially true options helps confirm it.

Q25. Which option best describes a randomized experiment?

A. Random assignment ensures comparability. B. Pure clustering. C. Pure regression. D. Pure observational study.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Random assignment ensures comparability.

Random assignment ensures comparability. is the correct answer here. Gold standard. This is the most accurate statement for which option best describes a randomized experiment. A quick elimination of partially true options helps confirm it.

Q26. What is the primary purpose of a randomized experiment?

A. Pure clustering. B. Random assignment ensures comparability. C. Pure observational study. D. Pure regression.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Random assignment ensures comparability.

Here, Random assignment ensures comparability. is the right choice. Gold standard. It aligns directly with what the question asks about what is the primary purpose of a randomized. The other options are either incomplete or contextually incorrect.

Q27. Which statement about a randomized experiment is most accurate?

A. Pure clustering. B. Pure observational study. C. Pure regression. D. Random assignment ensures comparability.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Random assignment ensures comparability.

In this case, Random assignment ensures comparability. is correct. Gold standard. It aligns directly with what the question asks about which statement about a randomized experiment is most. The other options are either incomplete or contextually incorrect.

Q28. How is a randomized experiment best characterized?

A. Random assignment ensures comparability. B. Pure observational study. C. Pure regression. D. Pure clustering.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Random assignment ensures comparability.

The best option here is Random assignment ensures comparability.. Gold standard. It aligns directly with what the question asks about how is a randomized experiment best characterized. The other options are either incomplete or contextually incorrect.

Q29. Which option best describes an observational study?

A. Always randomized. B. Always experimental. C. Treatment not randomly assigned. D. Pure simulation.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Treatment not randomly assigned.

For this question, Treatment not randomly assigned. is correct. Confounding is a risk. It aligns directly with what the question asks about which option best describes an observational study. The other options are either incomplete or contextually incorrect.

Q30. What is the primary purpose of an observational study?

A. Always experimental. B. Treatment not randomly assigned. C. Pure simulation. D. Always randomized.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Treatment not randomly assigned.

Treatment not randomly assigned. is the correct answer here. Confounding is a risk. It aligns directly with what the question asks about what is the primary purpose of an observational. The other options are either incomplete or contextually incorrect.

Q31. Which statement about an observational study is most accurate?

A. Always randomized. B. Pure simulation. C. Treatment not randomly assigned. D. Always experimental.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Treatment not randomly assigned.

Here, Treatment not randomly assigned. is the right choice. Confounding is a risk. This matches the core idea being tested around which statement about an observational study is most. The other options are either incomplete or contextually incorrect.

Q32. How is an observational study best characterized?

A. Pure simulation. B. Treatment not randomly assigned. C. Always experimental. D. Always randomized.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Treatment not randomly assigned.

In this case, Treatment not randomly assigned. is correct. Confounding is a risk. This matches the core idea being tested around how is an observational study best characterized. The other options are either incomplete or contextually incorrect.

Q33. Which option best describes confounding?

A. A variable affecting both treatment and outcome. B. A mediator. C. An instrument. D. A collider.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: A variable affecting both treatment and outcome.

The best option here is A variable affecting both treatment and outcome.. Bias source in observational data. This matches the core idea being tested around which option best describes confounding. The other options are either incomplete or contextually incorrect.

Q34. What is the primary purpose of confounding?

A. A collider. B. A mediator. C. An instrument. D. A variable affecting both treatment and outcome.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: A variable affecting both treatment and outcome.

For this question, A variable affecting both treatment and outcome. is correct. Bias source in observational data. This matches the core idea being tested around what is the primary purpose of confounding. The other options are either incomplete or contextually incorrect.

Q35. Which statement about confounding is most accurate?

A. A collider. B. A mediator. C. A variable affecting both treatment and outcome. D. An instrument.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: A variable affecting both treatment and outcome.

A variable affecting both treatment and outcome. is the correct answer here. Bias source in observational data. This matches the core idea being tested around which statement about confounding is most accurate. The other options are either incomplete or contextually incorrect.

Q36. How is confounding best characterized?

A. A mediator. B. A variable affecting both treatment and outcome. C. A collider. D. An instrument.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: A variable affecting both treatment and outcome.

Here, A variable affecting both treatment and outcome. is the right choice. Bias source in observational data. That is exactly the concept behind how is confounding best characterized in this context. The other options are either incomplete or contextually incorrect.

Q37. Which option best describes a mediator?

A. An instrument. B. On the causal path between treatment and outcome. C. A confounder. D. A collider.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: On the causal path between treatment and outcome.

In this case, On the causal path between treatment and outcome. is correct. Don't always control for it. That is exactly the concept behind which option best describes a mediator in this context. The other options are either incomplete or contextually incorrect.

Q38. What is the primary purpose of a mediator?

A. A collider. B. On the causal path between treatment and outcome. C. A confounder. D. An instrument.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: On the causal path between treatment and outcome.

The best option here is On the causal path between treatment and outcome.. Don't always control for it. That is exactly the concept behind what is the primary purpose of a mediator in this context. The other options are either incomplete or contextually incorrect.

Q39. Which statement about a mediator is most accurate?

A. On the causal path between treatment and outcome. B. An instrument. C. A confounder. D. A collider.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: On the causal path between treatment and outcome.

For this question, On the causal path between treatment and outcome. is correct. Don't always control for it. That is exactly the concept behind which statement about a mediator is most accurate in this context. The other options are either incomplete or contextually incorrect.

Q40. How is a mediator best characterized?

A. A collider. B. A confounder. C. An instrument. D. On the causal path between treatment and outcome.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: On the causal path between treatment and outcome.

On the causal path between treatment and outcome. is the correct answer here. Don't always control for it. That is exactly the concept behind how is a mediator best characterized in this context. The other options are either incomplete or contextually incorrect.

Q41. Which option best describes a collider?

A. An instrument. B. A confounder. C. A mediator. D. Variable caused by both treatment and outcome (or precursors).

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Variable caused by both treatment and outcome (or precursors).

Here, Variable caused by both treatment and outcome (or precursors). is the right choice. Conditioning can introduce bias. It fits the requirement in the prompt about which option best describes a collider. The other options are either incomplete or contextually incorrect.

Q42. What is the primary purpose of a collider?

A. A confounder. B. Variable caused by both treatment and outcome (or precursors). C. An instrument. D. A mediator.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Variable caused by both treatment and outcome (or precursors).

In this case, Variable caused by both treatment and outcome (or precursors). is correct. Conditioning can introduce bias. It fits the requirement in the prompt about what is the primary purpose of a collider. The other options are either incomplete or contextually incorrect.

Q43. Which statement about a collider is most accurate?

A. An instrument. B. A confounder. C. Variable caused by both treatment and outcome (or precursors). D. A mediator.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Variable caused by both treatment and outcome (or precursors).

The best option here is Variable caused by both treatment and outcome (or precursors).. Conditioning can introduce bias. It fits the requirement in the prompt about which statement about a collider is most accurate. The other options are either incomplete or contextually incorrect.

Q44. How is a collider best characterized?

A. A confounder. B. An instrument. C. Variable caused by both treatment and outcome (or precursors). D. A mediator.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Variable caused by both treatment and outcome (or precursors).

For this question, Variable caused by both treatment and outcome (or precursors). is correct. Conditioning can introduce bias. It fits the requirement in the prompt about how is a collider best characterized. The other options are either incomplete or contextually incorrect.

Q45. Which option best describes an instrument?

A. Affects treatment only via assigned status. B. A collider. C. A confounder. D. A mediator.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Affects treatment only via assigned status.

Affects treatment only via assigned status. is the correct answer here. Used in IV methods. It fits the requirement in the prompt about which option best describes an instrument. The other options are either incomplete or contextually incorrect.

Q46. What is the primary purpose of an instrument?

A. A mediator. B. A collider. C. A confounder. D. Affects treatment only via assigned status.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Affects treatment only via assigned status.

Here, Affects treatment only via assigned status. is the right choice. Used in IV methods. This is the most accurate statement for what is the primary purpose of an instrument. The other options are either incomplete or contextually incorrect.

Q47. Which statement about an instrument is most accurate?

A. Affects treatment only via assigned status. B. A mediator. C. A collider. D. A confounder.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Affects treatment only via assigned status.

In this case, Affects treatment only via assigned status. is correct. Used in IV methods. This is the most accurate statement for which statement about an instrument is most accurate. The other options are either incomplete or contextually incorrect.

Q48. How is an instrument best characterized?

A. A confounder. B. A mediator. C. Affects treatment only via assigned status. D. A collider.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Affects treatment only via assigned status.

The best option here is Affects treatment only via assigned status.. Used in IV methods. This is the most accurate statement for how is an instrument best characterized. The other options are either incomplete or contextually incorrect.

Q49. Which option best describes DAGs?

A. Pure undirected networks. B. Directed acyclic graphs encoding causal assumptions. C. Pure linear regressions. D. Pure decision trees.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Directed acyclic graphs encoding causal assumptions.

For this question, Directed acyclic graphs encoding causal assumptions. is correct. Help reason about adjustment. This is the most accurate statement for which option best describes dags. The other options are either incomplete or contextually incorrect.

Q50. What is the primary purpose of DAGs?

A. Pure linear regressions. B. Pure undirected networks. C. Directed acyclic graphs encoding causal assumptions. D. Pure decision trees.

Select an answer to check.

Answer: Directed acyclic graphs encoding causal assumptions.

Directed acyclic graphs encoding causal assumptions. is the correct answer here. Help reason about adjustment. This is the most accurate statement for what is the primary purpose of dags. The other options are either incomplete or contextually incorrect.