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© 1977 Oxford University Press
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Paths of Association in Epidemiological Analysis: Application to Health Effects of Environmental Exposures*
1 Medical Epidemiologist, Epidemiological Studies Laboratory, California State Department of Health 2151 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, California 94704, USA
Conventional regression analysis is based on assumptions of bidirectional associations between pairs of independent variables. In a number of circumstances these assumptions are not plausible. Structural representation in conventional regression is based on a set of parallel paths between independent and dependent variables; when the implausible assumptions are excluded, a different structural relation between independent and dependent variables is found. It permits a series associative path between independent variables. Two criteria for modification of conventional multivariate analysis are presented. They are when bilateral symmetry among independent variables is implausible on the basis of a priori information, and when there are significant differences between zero order and first order partial correlation coefficients. When these criteria are applied, there may result a series-parallel matrix of associations. For analysis of such a matrix, the procedures of path analysis are appropriate.
The concepts are illustrated with environmental examples, and path analytical computations are worked out for a set of data on social and environmental factors which affected infant mortality in England and Wales between 1925–1938.
Revised 18 April 1977
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