Abstract: Example embodiments relate to a computer-implemented method for attributing different system outcomes to one or more of binary input characteristic(s), sizing input characteristic(s), and/or sub-characteristics thereof. For example, a system output may be based on a plurality of interrelated input characteristics. Systems and methods of the present disclosure can provide for disambiguation and tracing of causal chains from input to output, as well as other performance analyses. In some embodiments, performance of a first set of inputs can be compared relative to performance of a reference set of inputs based at least in part on generating a research set of inputs. The research set can include simulated inputs weighted to a neutral position with respect to the reference set.