University of Groningen
Correlation, causation, and dynamics Bhushan, Nitin
DOI:
10.33612/diss.126588820
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Publication date: 2020
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Bhushan, N. (2020). Correlation, causation, and dynamics: Methodological innovations in sustainable energy behaviour research. University of Groningen. https://doi.org/10.33612/diss.126588820
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Correlation, Causation,
and Dynamics
Methodological Innovations in Sustainable Energy Behaviour
Research
A
V
Supported by the Netherlands
Organ-isation for Scientific Research (NWO)
under project number 406-13-006
ISBN
978− 94 − 034 − 2719 − 5 (print) 978− 94 − 034 − 2720 − 1 (electronic)
Book design: Typeset in LATEX based on theDissertateclass.
Cover design: Graphic typeset using thecircuitikzpackage.
Printed by: Ipskamp Printing, Enschede.
© Nitin Bhushan 2020. All rights reserved.
Correlation, Causation, and
Dynamics
Methodological Innovations in Sustainable Energy Behavior Research
PhD thesis
to obtain the degree of PhD at the University of Groningen
on the authority of the Rector Magnificus Prof. C. Wijmenga
and in accordance with the decision by the College of Deans. This thesis will be defended in public on
Thursday 4 June 2020 at 14:30 hours
by
Nitin Bhushan
born on 17 January 1988 in Chennai, India
Supervisors
Prof. C.J. Albers Prof. E.M. Steg
Assessment Committee
Prof. J.M.A. Scherpen Prof. R.R. Meijer Prof. S. Pahl
Contents
1 Introduction 1
2 Using a Gaussian Graphical Model to Explore Relation-ships between Items and Variables in Environmental
Psy-chology Research 11
2.1 The Gaussian graphical model . . . 15
2.2 Similarity and differences with other existing models . . . . 17
2.3 Illustrating the value of the Gaussian graphical model . . . . 18
2.4 Results . . . 29
2.5 Discussion and implications . . . 36
2.6 Conclusion . . . 39
3 Causal Search Methods: Simulation and Application to Sustainable Energy Behaviours Research. 41 3.1 Graphical models in brief . . . 45
3.2 Causal search and causal identification: a motivating example 46 3.3 Constraint-based causal search . . . 49
3.4 Methods . . . 52
3.5 Simulation design . . . 55
3.6 Results . . . 64
3.7 Discussion and considerations . . . 69
3.8 Empirical applications . . . 71
3.9 Empirical application 1: Buurkracht . . . 71
3.10 Empirical application 2: Eighth European Social Survey . . . 76
3.11 General discussion . . . 80
4 Studying the effects of intervention programmes on house-hold energy saving behaviours using graphical causal
models 89
4.1 Graphical Causal Models . . . 94
4.2 Example . . . 100
4.3 Dynamic graphical causal models . . . 105
4.4 Causal Discovery . . . 106
4.5 Limitations of DAGs . . . 107
4.6 Discussion . . . 108
5 Do households with PV consume energy in a sustainable manner? 110 5.1 Materials and Methods . . . 114
5.2 Results . . . 118
5.3 Discussion . . . 121
5.4 Conclusion . . . 124
6 Discussion 130 6.1 The main findings of this thesis . . . 131
6.2 Concluding remarks . . . 145 References 147 Summary 167 samenvatting 170 Curriculum Vitae 173 Acknowledgements 175
