Causal Modeling

Build causal models for research domains. Identifies variables, maps causal mechanisms, collects supporting evidence, analyzes potential interventions, and validates the resulting causal graph.

Manifest

| Level | Count | Skills | |-------|-------|--------| | Strategy | 5 | variable-identification, mechanism-mapping, evidence-collection, intervention-analysis, model-validation | | Tactic | 3 | counterfactual-reasoning, evidence-weighing, feedback-loop-detection | | SOP | 10 | variable-page-creation, mechanism-edge-creation, evidence-linking, contradiction-flagging, confidence-scoring, intervention-page-creation, loop-documentation, model-gap-detection, causal-chain-query, validation-report |

Budget Table

| Metric | Small | Medium | Large | |--------|-------|--------|-------| | Variables identified | 8 | 20 | 40 | | Causal edges created | 15 | 40 | 80 | | Evidence pages linked | 10 | 30 | 60 | | Interventions analyzed | 2 | 5 | 10 | | Feedback loops documented | 1 | 3 | 6 |

Strategy Sequence (Reference, Not Prescription)

1. variable-identification — identify key variables in the causal system
2. mechanism-mapping — map causal mechanisms between variables
3. evidence-collection — gather evidence supporting/refuting causal claims
4. intervention-analysis — analyze what happens when variables are manipulated
5. model-validation — validate the causal model for consistency and completeness

MCP Tools Used

• vault_search — find existing variables and mechanisms
• vault_add_edge — create causal edges (derived_from, supported_by, contradicts)
• vault_query_graph — trace causal chains
• vault_graph_stats — assess model coverage
• vault_lint — validate structural integrity

Context-Management

<HARD-GATE>

• Call context-init at campaign start
• Call context-checkpoint after each strategy completes
• Call knowledge-compilation after each strategy

</HARD-GATE>

Guiding Principles

• Correlation is not causation. Every causal edge must have mechanistic justification, not just statistical association.
• Confounders are everywhere. Actively search for confounding variables that could explain observed relationships.
• Interventions reveal truth. The strongest evidence for causation comes from intervention studies.
• Feedback loops are the norm. Most real systems have circular causation. Document loops explicitly.
• Confidence is calibrated. Strong mechanism + strong evidence = high confidence. Weak either = low confidence.

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Available Strategies

Optional, no fixed order; the final leaf is always a sop.

| Strategy | When to use | | --- | --- | | evidence-collection | Gather evidence for causal claims | | intervention-analysis | Analyze interventions and manipulations on the causal system | | knowledge-structuring-variable-identification | Identify key variables in the causal system | | mechanism-mapping | Map causal mechanisms between variables | | model-validation | Validate causal model consistency |

Available Tactics

Optional, no fixed order; the final leaf is always a sop.

| Tactic | When to use | | --- | --- | | counterfactual-reasoning | Tactic for reasoning about what would happen if variables were different — supports causal identification and intervention analysis. | | evidence-weighing | Tactic for assessing the strength and relevance of evidence for causal claims — distinguishes correlation from causation. | | feedback-loop-detection | Tactic for identifying circular causation — detect feedback loops, classify as reinforcing or balancing, document loop structure. | | knowledge-compilation | Tactic for compiling research findings into vault pages — orchestrates page creation, updates, edge linking, and index maintenance. Minimum yield ≥3 page operations per invocation. |

Available SOPs

Optional, no fixed order; the final leaf is always a sop.

| SOP | When to use | | --- | --- | | context-checkpoint | Append research process and results to the current Phase's context file. Covers both process and results with genuine substance. Use this skill at plan-designated checkpoint points — typically after each strategy completes or at key decision nodes within a research Phase. | | context-init | Create a new context file for a research Phase. Called once at Phase start to initialize the file that subsequent context-checkpoint calls will append to. Use this skill whenever a new research Phase begins and a fresh context file is needed. |

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