New journal on causal inference

Judea Pearl is starting an (online) Journal of Causal Inference. The first issue is planned for Fall 2011 and the website is now open for submissions. Here’s the background (from Pearl):

Existing discipline-specific journals tend to bury causal analysis in the language and methods of traditional statistical methodologies, creating the inaccurate impression that causal questions can be handled by routine methods of regression, simultaneous equations or logical implications, and glossing over the special ingredients needed for causal analysis. In contrast, Journal of Causal Inference highlights both the uniqueness and interdisciplinary nature of causal research.

In addition to significant original research articles, Journal of Causal Inference also welcomes:
1) Submissions that synthesize and assess cross-disciplinary methodological research
2) Submissions that discuss the history of the causal inference field and its philosophical underpinnings
3) Unsolicited short communications on topics that aim to highlight areas of emerging consensus and ongoing controversy, or to bring unorthodox perspectives to open questions
4) Responses to published articles in causality.

This journal sounds like a great idea. I don’t have any submissions myself right now, but if I were going to write something for the journal, perhaps I would send in something like this article on experimental reasoning in social science.

6 thoughts on “New journal on causal inference

    • I agree – however, while they don’t explicitly say it’s open access, it’s implied that the papers will be freely accessible “Readers may share information about Journal of Causal Inference articles with their colleagues, by sending or posting links to the articles and their abstracts. To do so easily, click “Tell a Colleague” on any article page. No permissions are required to post, reuse, share, or distribute links to articles and their abstracts.” (Which isn’t quite the same as complete open access, but it’s close.)

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