The paper proposes a method to precisely decompose confounders and estimate treatment effects.
problem Estimating treatment effects from observational data with confounder identification and balancing.
method Learning decomposed representations to identify and balance confounders and non-confounders.
result The method achieves more precise treatment effect estimation than existing methods.
Detect hidden confounding in observational data using multiple environments.
problem Detect hidden confounding in observational data.
method Theoretical framework and simulation studies to test for hidden confounding.
result The proposed procedure correctly predicts hidden confounding, especially when bias is large.
KRCD detects unobserved confounders in nonlinear observational data.
problem Detecting unobserved confounders in nonlinear observational studies.
method Kernel Regression Confounder Detection (KRCD) using reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces.
result KRCD outperforms existing methods and achieves superior computational efficiency.
A new algorithm CAP learns optimal policies from observational data with confounding bias and missing observations.
problem Offline contextual bandit with confounding bias and missing observations.
method CAP policy learning, forming reward function as solution of integral equation system, building confidence set, and greedily taking action with pessimism.
result Developed an upper bound to the suboptimality of CAP for the offline contextual bandit problem.
Consistent estimator derived for confounding strength in observational data.
problem Estimating confounding strength in observational data is challenging due to unobserved confounders.
method Derived and adapted a consistent estimator using tools from random matrix theory.
result The original estimator is not consistent, but an adapted one is.
Confounding biases recommender systems, even when data seems fully observed.
problem Unmeasured features influencing both treatment and outcome in recommender systems.
method Illustrations and simulation studies showing how common practices introduce confounding.
result Standard recommender system practices can introduce confounding, reducing performance.
The paper compares and optimizes estimators for treatment effects with observed confounders and mediators.
problem Estimating treatment effects with observed confounders and mediators.
method Investigates the linear Gaussian causal model, compares and optimizes estimators, and combines datasets.
result An optimal estimator outperforms the backdoor and frontdoor estimators by an unbounded constant factor.
Algorithm detects unmeasured confounding in observational data.
problem Estimating treatment effects in observational studies with untestable conditions.
method Two-stage procedure that detects dependencies between causal mechanisms.
result Algorithm efficiently detects confounding on simulated and semi-synthetic data.
Method estimates CATE using RCT data to handle hidden confounders.
problem Estimating CATE in the presence of hidden confounders.
method Pseudo-confounder generator and CATE model alignment.
result Method reduces bias in CATE estimation.
Paper proposes RCD method to discover causal structure with latent confounders.
problem Causal discovery from data with latent confounders.
method Repetitive causal discovery (RCD) method to infer causal directions between observed variables.
result RCD effectively identifies latent confounders and causal directions between observed variables.
Satellite imagery helps adjust for unobserved confounders in observational studies.
problem Adjusting for confounding factors in observational studies with non-tabular data like satellite imagery.
method Formalizing conditions for causal effect identification, estimation, and sensitivity analysis.
result Demonstrated the use of satellite imagery as a proxy for unobserved confounders in anti-poverty aid programs.
New methods for handling confounding in observational studies.
problem Handling confounding variables in observational studies.
method Generalized coarsened procedures for clustering confounding variables, followed by estimation of treatment effects and variance.
result Developed a general asymptotic framework for the average causal effect estimator and variance formulae.
SDD improves DD for estimating treatment effects by adjusting for confounding.
problem Estimating treatment effects in observational studies with confounding.
method Synthesized Difference in Differences (SDD) using RCT data to infer correct slopes.
result SDD achieves state-of-the-art performance across synthetic and real datasets.
Develops Austen plots for assessing bias from unobserved confounding in observational studies.
problem Bias in causal estimates due to unobserved confounding.
method Formalizes confounding strength, uses Austen plots to visualize and quantify bias.
result Allows domain experts to assess the plausibility of strong confounders.
Proposes DSW for unbiased ITE estimation with dynamic confounders.
problem Estimating ITE from dynamic observational data with time-varying confounders.
method Deep Sequential Weighting (DSW) infers hidden confounders using current treatment assignments and historical information.
result DSW generates unbiased and accurate treatment effects.
A novel disentangled graph autoencoder improves treatment effect estimation from networked observational data.
problem Treatment effect estimation from observational data is challenging due to unconfoundedness assumption and latent confounders.
method Proposes a disentangled variational graph autoencoder to disentangle latent factors and enforce factor independence.
result Extensive experiments show superior performance compared to state-of-the-art approaches.
New methods prioritize acquiring confounding features for efficient treatment effect estimation.
problem Efficient treatment effect estimation from observational data with missing confounding information.
method Proposes two acquisition strategies: covariate balancing and reducing factual outcome error.
result Our proposed methods, especially reducing factual outcome error, improve sample efficiency for treatment effect estimation.
Estimating the individual treatment effect (ITE) from observational data is essential in medicine. A central challenge in estimating the ITE is handling confounders, which are factors that affect both an intervention and its outcome. Most previous work relies on the unconfoundedness assumption, which posits that all th…
DOVI improves reinforcement learning with offline data, reducing trial-and-error in critical scenarios.
problem Lack of sample efficiency in deep reinforcement learning for critical applications.
method Proposes DOVI algorithm to incorporate confounded observational data provably efficiently.
result DOVI reduces regret by a multiplicative factor compared to pure online setting, especially when data are informative.
Develops a method to estimate treatment effects using noisy proxies over time.
problem Estimating individualized treatment effects from noisy proxies of confounders.
method Deconfounding Temporal Autoencoder (DTA) combining autoencoder and causal regularization.
result Improves treatment effect estimates by leveraging noisy proxies and learning hidden confounders.
ContiVAE estimates individual dose-response curves from unobserved confounders using observational data.
problem Estimating causal effects of continuous treatments considering unobserved confounders.
method Variational auto-encoder with a Tilted Gaussian prior distribution modeling hidden confounders as latent variables.
result ContiVAE outperforms existing methods by up to 62% in predicting individual dose-response curves.
This paper tackles confounding biases in data augmentation.
problem Mitigating spurious correlations and confounding variables in training data.
method Formal analysis and counterfactual data augmentation.
result Removing confounding biases leads to invariant features and better generalization.
CONE evaluates treatment assignment functions using networked observational data to mitigate hidden confounding bias.
problem Evaluate treatment assignment functions using networked observational data with hidden confounders.
method CONE framework that learns partial representations of latent confounders and combines them for counterfactual evaluation.
result Network information mitigates hidden confounding bias in counterfactual evaluation.
Method estimates causal effects from combined interventional and observational data.
problem Estimating causal effects from unobserved confounders.
method Causal reduction method replacing latent confounders with a single latent confounder.
result Improves estimation accuracy from combined data without observing all confounders.
We study the problem of learning personalized decision policies from observational data while accounting for possible unobserved confounding. Previous approaches, which assume unconfoundedness, i.e., that no unobserved confounders affect both the treatment assignment as well as outcome, can lead to policies that introd…
New algorithm tackles confounding in offline RL for partially observable MDPs.
problem Confounding in offline reinforcement learning for partially observable MDPs.
method P3O algorithm using proximal causal inference and pessimistic confidence regions.
result Achieves n−1/2-suboptimality for offline RL in POMDPs with confounded data. Selective deconfounding improves ATE estimation with less data.
problem Estimating ATE with unobserved confounders using limited data.
method Combining confounded and deconfounded observational data for ATE estimation.
result Selective deconfounding can significantly reduce the amount of deconfounded data needed.
Observational data is increasingly used as a means for making individual-level causal predictions and intervention recommendations. The foremost challenge of causal inference from observational data is hidden confounding, whose presence cannot be tested in data and can invalidate any causal conclusion. Experimental dat…
Combining experimental and observational data for long-term causal effects.
problem Estimating causal effects of treatment on long-term outcomes using mixed data types.
method Three approaches for fusing experimental and observational data: equal confounding, shared confounder, and proxy variables.
result Developed estimators for each approach and analyzed their robustness.
New method disentangles latent factors for better treatment effect estimation.
problem Estimating treatment effects from observational data when confounders are not the only variables.
method Variational inference to disentangle latent factors into instrumental, confounding, and risk factors.
result The method improves treatment effect estimation accuracy on various datasets.
New method estimates policy performance under unobserved confounding.
problem Estimating policy performance when decisions depend on unobserved variables.
method Developed worst-case bounds for robust OPE under unobserved confounding.
result Efficient procedure for computing worst-case bounds, proving statistical consistency.
Proposes BDCM to handle unmeasured confounders in causal inference.
problem Handling unmeasured confounders in causal inference.
method Backdoor criterion to find variables for diffusion model.
result Captures counterfactual distribution more precisely.
Study evaluates machine learning for predicting treatment effects in observational studies.
problem Challenges in measuring treatment effects due to confounding bias in observational studies.
method Simulated two scenarios with and without confounding, using linear and non-linear relationships. Used machine learning models (linear regression, lasso regression, random forest) to predict counterfactuals and treatment effects.
result Machine learning models perform well under linearity but poorly under non-linearity, even in the presence of confounding.
Learning individual-level causal effects from observational data, such as inferring the most effective medication for a specific patient, is a problem of growing importance for policy makers. The most important aspect of inferring causal effects from observational data is the handling of confounders, factors that affec…
The paper tackles long-term treatment effects with persistent confounders using sequential short-term outcomes.
problem Estimating long-term treatment effects with persistent unmeasured confounders.
method Exploiting the sequential structure of short-term outcomes, the paper develops three novel identification strategies and corresponding estimators.
result The proposed methods outperform existing approaches in handling persistent confounders.
Causal inference from observational data requires assumptions. These assumptions range from measuring confounders to identifying instruments. Traditionally, causal inference assumptions have focused on estimation of effects for a single treatment. In this work, we construct techniques for estimation with multiple treat…
Simulation study evaluates causal ML models under confounding violations.
problem Assessing conditional exchangeability in causal machine learning models.
method Simulation study with varying confounding, sample size, and NCO structures.
result Causal ML models fail to recover true treatment effect heterogeneity under violations of conditional exchangeability.
Method bounds continuous-valued treatment effects when confounding variables are hidden.
problem Inferring causal effects of continuous treatments when hidden confounders are present.
method Novel methodology to bound average and conditional average continuous-valued treatment effects.
result Method gives tighter coverage of true dose-response curve than existing methods.
New partial models correct for confounding effects in reinforcement learning.
problem Confounding effects in partial models lead to incorrect planning.
method Introduces causally correct partial models for reinforcement learning.
result Causally correct partial models avoid confounding effects and improve planning accuracy.
Study identifies conditions for proxy adjustment in confounded binary treatment outcomes.
problem Average causal effect estimation with a non-differentially mismeasured binary confounder.
method Identifies conditions for proxy adjustment in the presence of a non-differentially mismeasured binary confounder.
result Adjusting for a non-differentially mismeasured binary proxy can improve estimation of the average causal effect.
New method scores DAGs by identifying unobserved confounding.
problem Unobserved confounding complicates causal discovery.
method Score-based causal discovery algorithm that accounts for unobserved confounding.
result Sparse linear Gaussian DAGs can be recovered from observed data.
New method removes hidden confounders for unbiased treatment effect estimation.
problem Bias in treatment effect estimation due to unobserved confounders.
method Proposes a new debiased estimation approach via SVD to handle heterogeneous confounding.
result Established rate of convergence for the estimator under different noise conditions.
New method for evaluating policies in complex decision-making models with hidden variables.
problem Evaluating policies in partially observable Markov decision processes with hidden confounders.
method Introduces novel identification methods and minimax estimation techniques for linking target policy's value and observed data distribution.
result Proposes three estimators for off-policy evaluation in POMDPs with latent confounders, demonstrating their effectiveness through nonasymptotic and asymptotic analysis.
Develops a method to estimate policy values robustly in the presence of confounding variables.
problem Infinite-horizon reinforcement learning with unobserved confounding variables makes policy evaluation unidentifiable.
method Robust approach estimating sharp bounds on policy value using optimization over state-occupancy ratios and sensitivity model.
result Proves convergence to sharp bounds as more confounded data is collected.
VTD uses deep embeddings to estimate treatment effects from longitudinal data without unconfoundedness assumption.
problem Challenges in estimating individualized treatment effects from longitudinal observational data due to confounding bias.
method Leverages deep variational embeddings and observed proxies to learn hidden confounders.
result Effective in estimating treatment effects when hidden confounding is the leading bias.
Study shows how adjusting for a binary proxy can bound causal effects.
problem Bounding causal effects with a binary confounder and proxy.
method Monotonicity assumption applied to a binary confounder and observed proxy.
result Adjusting for a proxy produces a measure of the effect between unadjusted and true measures.
New design detects confounders from treatment intent in ICU data.
problem Unobserved confounding in observational ICU data.
method Querying human experts to identify unobserved confounders.
result Demonstrates feasibility of detecting confounders from EHRs.
The paper analyzes identifiability in ODE systems with hidden confounders.
problem Identifiability of ODE systems with hidden confounders.
method Systematic analysis of identifiability in linear ODE systems with hidden confounders, considering both no causal relationships and causal dependencies.
result Comprehensive identifiability analysis of ODE systems with hidden confounders, including causal dependencies.