Using Omitted Variable Bias to Assess Uncertainty in the Estimation of an AIDS Education Treatment Effect

Sue M. Marcus

Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics, 1997, vol. 22, issue 2, 193-201

Abstract: In a comparison of a treatment group and a control group, a difference in results can correspond to the effect of the treatment; however, the difference might also be, at least in part, a reflection of pretreatment differences between the two populations. Covariance adjustment can reduce bias in the estimate of the treatment effect ( Cochran & Rubin, 1973 ); however, baseline group differences with respect to unobserved covariates which cannot be controlled can lead to hidden bias. This article presents a simple method which uses omitted variable bias to assess the uncertainty of the hidden bias by describing what scenarios regarding the unobserved covariate can lead to a given level of hidden bias. A comparison of a culturally sensitive AIDS video education program and a standard AIDS video education program is used as an illustration.

Keywords: causal inference; hidden bias; observational study; sensitivity analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1997
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:jedbes:v:22:y:1997:i:2:p:193-201

DOI: 10.3102/10769986022002193

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