The counterfactual framework is a method used in causal inference to evaluate what would have happened to a unit (like an individual or group) under different circumstances, typically comparing actual outcomes to hypothetical scenarios. This approach helps researchers understand the causal impact of treatments or interventions by imagining an alternate reality where the treatment did not occur, which is crucial for establishing causal relationships in empirical studies.
congrats on reading the definition of counterfactual framework. now let's actually learn it.