Tool

Toolkit for Weighting and Analysis of Nonequivalent Groups: A Tutorial on the TWANG Shiny Application for Time-Varying Treatments

This tutorial demonstrates the use of the Toolkit for Weighting and Analysis of Nonequivalent Groups Shiny application for time-varying treatments -- for cases when the time-varying treatment or exposure is binary -- using an illustrative example.

May 14, 2021
Journal Article

Brief Tutorial for twangContinuous

This document provides a brief tutorial on using the twangContinous package to estimate causal effects for continuous exposure variables using generalized propensity scores estimated via generalized boosted models.

Mar 10, 2021
Tool

Quantifying the Bias Due to Observed Individual Confounders in Causal Treatment Effect Estimates: A Tutorial for the Selection Bias Decomposition (SBdecomp) Package

In this tool, the authors explain the methodology behind the primary function of the selection bias decomposition (SBdecomp) package; describe its features, syntax and how to implement the function; and illustrate its use with an example.

Dec 29, 2020
Journal Article

Optimally Balanced Gaussian Process Propensity Scores for Estimating Treatment Effects

This paper introduces a new approach to estimating the propensity score using Gaussian processes and optimizing hyperparameters with respect to covariate balance.

Sep 19, 2019
Journal Article

Optimizing Variance-Bias Trade-Off in the TWANG Package for Estimation of Propensity Scores

This discussion highlights potentially meaningful ways to optimize propensity score machine learning methods to allow for minimal bias and less variability.

Dec 28, 2017
Journal Article

Addressing Geographic Confounding Through Spatial Propensity Scores: A Study of Racial Disparities in Diabetes

A spatial "doubly robust" estimator can minimize geographically related risk difference among racial/ethnic groups in health disparities studies.

Dec 14, 2017
Tool

Propensity Scores for Repeated Treatments: A Tutorial for the iptw Function in the TWANG Package

This tutorial describes the use of the TWANG package in R to estimate inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs) when one has time varying treatments or sequences of treatments over time.

Sep 14, 2017
Journal Article

No Link Found Between Pets and Kids' Health

Contrary to popular belief, having a dog or cat in the home does not improve the mental or physical health of children. There's no evidence to support the notion that pets can improve child health by increasing physical activity and improving empathy skills.

Aug 29, 2017
Tool

Propensity Scores for Multiple Treatments: A Tutorial on the MNPS Command for Stata Users

This tutorial explains the syntax and features related to the implementation of the MNPS commands in the Stata TWANG series.

May 5, 2017
Tool

Propensity Scores for Multiple Treatments: A Tutorial for the MNPS Macro in the TWANG SAS Macros

This tutorial explains the syntax and features related to the implementation of the MNPS function in the SAS TWANG macros.

Mar 13, 2015
Journal Article

A Tutorial on Propensity Score Estimation for Multiple Treatments Using Generalized Boosted Models

The use of propensity scores to control for pretreatment imbalances on observed variables in non-randomized or observational studies examining the causal effects of treatments or interventions has become widespread over the past decade.

Jan 1, 2013
Journal Article

Bias and Variance Trade-Offs When Combining Propensity Score Weighting and Regression: With an Application to HIV Status and Homeless Men

There is a bias-variance tradeoff at work in propensity score estimation; every step toward better balance usually means an increase in variance and at some point a marginal decrease in bias may not be worth the associated increase in variance.

Jun 1, 2012
Journal Article

Assessing the Effect of Race Bias in Post-Traffic Stop Outcomes Using Propensity Scores

Due to community demands, case settlements, and state laws concerning racial profiling, police departments are collecting data on traffic stops.

Dec 31, 2005
Report

Assessing the Effect of Race Bias in Post-traffic Stop Outcomes Using Propensity Scores

Addresses the role race plays a role in officers' use of discretion in traffic stops by proposing a technique to determine the extent to which race bias affects citation rates, search rates, and the duration of the stop.

Dec 31, 2005
Report

Propensity Score Estimation with Boosted Regression for Evaluating Causal Effects in Observational Studies

Propensity score weights estimated using boosting eliminate most pretreatment group differences and substantially alter the apparent relative effects of adolescent substance abuse treatment.

Dec 31, 2003