The magnitude and direction of collider bias for binary variables

DOI10.1515/EM-2017-0013zbMATH Open1448.92009arXiv1609.00606OpenAlexW3106215303MaRDI QIDQ2192289FDOQ2192289

Authors: Trang Quynh Nguyen, Allan Dafoe, Elizabeth L. Ogburn 

Publication date: 16 August 2020

Published in: Epidemiologic Methods (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: Suppose we are interested in the effect of variable $X$ on variable $Y$. If $X$ and $Y$ both influence, or are associated with variables that influence, a common outcome, called a collider, then conditioning on the collider (or on a variable influenced by the collider -- its "child") induces a spurious association between $X$ and $Y$, which is known as collider bias. Characterizing the magnitude and direction of collider bias is crucial for understanding the implications of selection bias and for adjudicating decisions about whether to control for variables that are known to be associated with both exposure and outcome but could be either confounders or colliders. Considering a class of situations where all variables are binary, and where $X$ and $Y$ either are, or are respectively influenced by, two marginally independent causes of a collider, we derive collider bias that results from (i) conditioning on specific levels of, or (ii) linear regression adjustment for, the collider (or its child). We also derive simple conditions that determine the sign of such bias.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1609.00606

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zbMATH Keywords

M-biasselection biasbiascollidercollider biascollider-stratification bias

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Applications of statistics to biology and medical sciences; meta analysis (62P10) General biostatistics (92B15)

Cites Work

• Observational studies.
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• A new criterion for confounder selection
• Adjustments and their consequences -- Collapsibility analysis using graphical models
• Marginally bound resonances of charged massive scalar fields in the background of a charged reflecting shell
• The directions of selection bias
• Matching in Epidemiologic Studies: Validity and Efficiency Considerations

Cited In (3)

• A copula-based portrayal of the collider bias
• Mediation analysis with case-control sampling: identification and estimation in the presence of a binary mediator
• The directions of selection bias

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