Showing papers by "Donald B. Rubin published in 1972"

The acceptability of regression solutions: another look at computational accuracy

Abstract: Longley proposed a set of data for use in testing regression programs. This paper shows that the numerically accurate solution is likely to be an unreasonable estimate of the regression coefficients for this problem. This is true because the accuracy of the data and appropriateness of the model may affect the solution more than the computational method. An easily computed index is derived that can be used to indicate such computational instability. The basic conclusion is that a concern about highly accurate computational methods must be tempered with a concern for whether the data are accurate enough to make the results of such computation meaningful.

Estimating causal effects of treatments in experimental and observational studies

Abstract: A discussion of matching, randomization, random sampling, and other methods of controlling extraneous variation is presented. The objective is to specify the benefits of randomization in estimating causal effects of treatments. The basic conclusion is that randomization should be employed whenever possible, but the use of carefully controlled nonrandomized data to estimate causal effects is a reasonable and necessary procedure in many cases.