Table 1.
The Four Basic Components of the Total Effect (the following four components sum to the total effect TE = Y1 − Y0)
| Effect | Counterfactual Definition | Empirical Analogue | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Controlled Direct Effect (CDE) | (Y10 − Y00) | (p10 − p00) | Due Neither to Mediation nor Interaction |
| Reference Interaction (INTref) | (Y11 − Y10 − Y01 + Y00)(M0) | (p11 − p10 − p01 + p00)P(M = 1|A = 0) | Due to Interaction Only |
| Mediated Interaction (INTmed) | (Y11 − Y10 − Y01 + Y00)(M1 − M0) | (p11 − p10 − p01 + p00){P(M = 1|A = 1) − P(M = 1|A = 0)} | Due to Mediation and Interaction |
| Pure Indirect Effect (PIE) | (Y01 − Y00)(M1 − M0) = (Y0M1 − Y0M0) | (p01 − p00){P(M = 1|A = 1) − P(M = 1|A = 0)}. | Due to Mediation Only |