Instrumental variables
This method also belongs to Adjusted methods (Backdoor C.), Causal ML, and Experiments.
Table of Contents
Description & principle
A clear, technical yet accessible explanation of the method, its core principle(s).
Major variants
optional
If the method has variants that seem important, either already widespread or promising and well documented.
Further online resources
References to useful online resources to get started, e.g. explanation blogs
Reference articles
Method
- One or a few key academic references that introduce or formalize the method.
Research applications
With RS data in Ecology / Biodiversity
- A
Without RS data (Ecology domain)
optional
- B
Packages
Python
R
Code Cells
optional
Assessment table
| Category | Criteria | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Outcome | Objective | Effect estimation, Causal relationship(s), Detection |
| Estimand | LATE, ATT, Others | |
| Validity | Varying | |
| Data compatibility | Type | Spatial only (cross-sectional), Panel data (many samples) |
| Required TS length | Handles ≤ 10 | |
| Handles few samples | Yes ≤ 10 | |
| Handles huge datasets (n) | Yes | |
| Handles missing data | No: requires prelim. correction | |
| RS-data proven | Few applications | |
| Assumptions | Functional form | Linear, Non-linear |
| No unobserved confounders | Relaxes assumption | |
| No interference | Recommended | |
| Well-defined treatments | Recommended | |
| Common support (positivity) | Recommended | |
| Causal Markov Condition | Recommended | |
| Faithfulness | Recommended | |
| IDD | Recommended | |
| Model specific assumption | Instrument validity | |
| Model properties | Requires explicit processes | Agnostic |
| Exposure type | Binary, Categorical, Continuous / Time-varying | |
| Number of variables | Multivariate | |
| Handles lag effects | No | |
| Propagates uncertainty | Model-specific tools | |
| Parametric nature | Parametric, Semi-parametric | |
| Packages | Language | R, Python, Others |
| Usage | Technical but well documented |