Target Mean Analysis — Direct Effect
Context
The Target Mean Analysis used to calculate Direct Effects is closely related to the Target Mean Analysis — Total Effects. Using the simulated x-values across the range of the variable’s variation domain, Target Mean Analysis infers the corresponding mean values of the Target Node, i.e., the y-values in the plot, while holding constant (or fixed) the distributions of the other variables in the network. For instance, when computing the curve of the Target Node as a function of , the marginal distributions of the other variables, , , , are maintained.
Fixing distributions does not apply if any of the nodes belong to the following classes:
- Factor or
- Non_Confounder
In the following plot, the Direct Effect Curves of all Driver Nodes are displayed at the same time. However, please note that all of these curves are calculated individually.
Note the major difference in shape between the Total Effects Curves and Direct Effects Curves.