How Bias Reduction Is Affected by Covariate Choice, Unreliability, and Mode of Data Analysis: Results From Two Types of Within-Study Comparisons

Multivariate Behavioral Research
Thomas D CookSteffi Pohl

Abstract

This study uses within-study comparisons to assess the relative importance of covariate choice, unreliability in the measurement of these covariates, and whether regression or various forms of propensity score analysis are used to analyze the outcome data. Two of the within-study comparisons are of the four-arm type, and many more are of the three-arm type. To examine unreliability, simulations of differences in reliability are deliberately introduced into the 2 four-arm studies. Results are similar across the samples of studies reviewed with their wide range of non-experimental designs and topic areas. Covariate choice counts most, unreliability next most, and the mode of data analysis hardly matters at all. Unreliability has larger effects the more important a covariate is for bias reduction, but even so the very best covariates measured with a reliability of only .60 still do better than substantively poor covariates that are measured perfectly. Why regression methods do as well as propensity score methods used in several different ways is a mystery still because, in theory, propensity scores would seem to have a distinct advantage in many practical applications, especially those where functional forms are in doubt.

Citations

Sep 1, 2016·Journal of Causal Inference·Peter M Steiner, Yongnam Kim
Feb 28, 2013·American Journal of Community Psychology·Carolin HagelskampPeter Salovey
May 21, 2013·The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences·Elizabeth A HahnDavid M Almeida
Aug 22, 2015·Prevention Science : the Official Journal of the Society for Prevention Research·Anthony BiglanAlexander C Wagenaar
Apr 8, 2015·Prevention Science : the Official Journal of the Society for Prevention Research·Denise C GottfredsonKathryn M Zafft
Oct 23, 2018·The British Journal of Mathematical and Statistical Psychology·Marie-Ann SengewaldSteffi Pohl
Feb 7, 2011·Multivariate Behavioral Research·Felix J Thoemmes, Eun Sook Kim
May 31, 2011·Multivariate Behavioral Research·Ben Kelcey
Nov 20, 2016·American Journal of Community Psychology·Sandra Newman, C Scott Holupka
Mar 28, 2019·Psychometrika·Marie-Ann Sengewald, Steffi Pohl
Feb 26, 2021·Journal of the American Geriatrics Society·Thomas E RobinsonNgaire Kerse
Feb 1, 2015·Journal of School Psychology·Heining ChamMyung Hee Im

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