Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
Hauptverfasser: Peng, Maosen, Li, Yan, Wu, Chong, Li, Liang
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2024
Schlagworte:
Online-Zugang:https://arxiv.org/abs/2404.04794
Tags: Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
_version_ 1866915921484840960
author Peng, Maosen
Li, Yan
Wu, Chong
Li, Liang
author_facet Peng, Maosen
Li, Yan
Wu, Chong
Li, Liang
contents The propensity score is widely used for causal inference in observational studies, but common parametric estimators can produce biased and inefficient effect estimates when model assumptions are violated. Nonparametric approaches reduce sensitivity to misspecification but often yield unstable weights and inadequate covariate balance. We propose Local Balance with Calibration, implemented by Neural Networks, a weighting method that combines flexible function approximation with the explicit enforcement of covariate balance and calibration. When used with inverse probability weighting, the proposed estimator produces more stable weights, improved covariate balance, and reduced bias in average treatment effect estimation compared with existing approaches. We further develop an influence-function-based variance estimator that provides accurate uncertainty quantification for the resulting weighted estimators. Numerical studies demonstrate improved efficiency and reliable variance estimation across a range of data-generating scenarios. The method is implemented using the publicly available R package LBCNet.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2404_04794
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Local Balance Calibration for Nonparametric Propensity Score Estimation
Peng, Maosen
Li, Yan
Wu, Chong
Li, Liang
Methodology
The propensity score is widely used for causal inference in observational studies, but common parametric estimators can produce biased and inefficient effect estimates when model assumptions are violated. Nonparametric approaches reduce sensitivity to misspecification but often yield unstable weights and inadequate covariate balance. We propose Local Balance with Calibration, implemented by Neural Networks, a weighting method that combines flexible function approximation with the explicit enforcement of covariate balance and calibration. When used with inverse probability weighting, the proposed estimator produces more stable weights, improved covariate balance, and reduced bias in average treatment effect estimation compared with existing approaches. We further develop an influence-function-based variance estimator that provides accurate uncertainty quantification for the resulting weighted estimators. Numerical studies demonstrate improved efficiency and reliable variance estimation across a range of data-generating scenarios. The method is implemented using the publicly available R package LBCNet.
title Local Balance Calibration for Nonparametric Propensity Score Estimation
topic Methodology
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2404.04794