High Precision Causal Model Evaluation with Conditional Randomization
This work addresses the problem of reliable causal model evaluation for researchers and practitioners when randomized controlled trials are infeasible, offering an incremental improvement over existing IPW methods.
The paper tackled the challenge of high variance in causal model evaluation using inverse probability weighting (IPW) in conditional randomization settings by introducing a low-variance pairs estimator, which achieved near-RCT performance in empirical studies.
The gold standard for causal model evaluation involves comparing model predictions with true effects estimated from randomized controlled trials (RCT). However, RCTs are not always feasible or ethical to perform. In contrast, conditionally randomized experiments based on inverse probability weighting (IPW) offer a more realistic approach but may suffer from high estimation variance. To tackle this challenge and enhance causal model evaluation in real-world conditional randomization settings, we introduce a novel low-variance estimator for causal error, dubbed as the pairs estimator. By applying the same IPW estimator to both the model and true experimental effects, our estimator effectively cancels out the variance due to IPW and achieves a smaller asymptotic variance. Empirical studies demonstrate the improved of our estimator, highlighting its potential on achieving near-RCT performance. Our method offers a simple yet powerful solution to evaluate causal inference models in conditional randomization settings without complicated modification of the IPW estimator itself, paving the way for more robust and reliable model assessments.