Establishing Causality in product management
# The 9 Bradford-Hill Criteria for Establishing Causality: Industry Examples The Bradford-Hill criteria, established by Sir Austin Bradford Hill in 1965, provide a framework for determining whether an observed association is likely to be causal. These nine criteria have become fundamental tools in epidemiology, but their application extends far beyond healthcare into various industries. This article explores each criterion with three practical examples from different sectors. ## 1. STRENGTH: How large is the association? The strength criterion examines the magnitude of the observed association between a potential cause and effect. **Healthcare Industry:** The exceptionally strong association between smoking and lung cancer (smokers are 15-30 times more likely to develop lung cancer than non-smokers) was one of the first compelling pieces of evidence that smoking causes cancer. **Technology Industry:** A strong correlation exists between screen time before bed and sleep disruption. Stud...