Propensity Score Techniques and the Assessment of Measured Covariate Balance to Test Causal Associations in Psychological Research

Autor/inn/en	Harder, Valerie S.; Stuart, Elizabeth A.; Anthony, James C.
Titel	Propensity Score Techniques and the Assessment of Measured Covariate Balance to Test Causal Associations in Psychological Research
Quelle	In: Psychological Methods, 15 (2010) 3, S.234-249 (16 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1082-989X
DOI	10.1037/a0019623
Schlagwörter	Psychological Studies; Probability; Statistical Analysis; Statistical Inference; Computation; Drug Abuse; Marijuana + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Wahrscheinlichkeitsrechnung; Wahrscheinlichkeitstheorie; Statistische Analyse; Inferential statistics; Schließende Statistik
Abstract	There is considerable interest in using propensity score (PS) statistical techniques to address questions of causal inference in psychological research. Many PS techniques exist, yet few guidelines are available to aid applied researchers in their understanding, use, and evaluation. In this study, the authors give an overview of available techniques for PS estimation and PS application. They also provide a way to help compare PS techniques, using the resulting measured covariate balance as the criterion for selecting between techniques. The empirical example for this study involves the potential causal relationship linking early-onset cannabis problems and subsequent negative mental health outcomes and uses data from a prospective cohort study. PS techniques are described and evaluated on the basis of their ability to balance the distributions of measured potentially confounding covariates for individuals with and without early-onset cannabis problems. This article identifies the PS techniques that yield good statistical balance of the chosen measured covariates within the context of this particular research question and cohort. (Contains 2 figures and 2 tables.) (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10