Causal Inference for Social Network Data

DOI10.1080/01621459.2022.2131557arXiv1705.08527WikidataQ130418047 ScholiaQ130418047MaRDI QIDQ6154017FDOQ6154017

Authors: Elizabeth L. Ogburn, Oleg Sofrygin, Iván Díaz, Mark J. Van der Laan 

Publication date: 19 March 2024

Published in: Journal of the American Statistical Association (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: We describe semiparametric estimation and inference for causal effects using observational data from a single social network. Our asymptotic results are the first to allow for dependence of each observation on a growing number of other units as sample size increases. In addition, while previous methods have implicitly permitted only one of two possible sources of dependence among social network observations, we allow for both dependence due to transmission of information across network ties and for dependence due to latent similarities among nodes sharing ties. We propose new causal effects that are specifically of interest in social network settings, such as interventions on network ties and network structure. We use our methods to reanalyze an influential and controversial study that estimated causal peer effects of obesity using social network data from the Framingham Heart Study; after accounting for network structure we find no evidence for causal peer effects.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1705.08527

zbMATH Keywords

causal inferencesocial networkssemiparametric inferencestatistical dependence

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Statistics (62-XX)

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Cited In (1)

• Nonparametric doubly robust estimation of causal effect on networks in observational studies

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