Transporting Causal Effects Across Populations Using Structural Causal Modeling: An Illustration to Work-from-Home Productivity

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Park, Sujin; Tafti, Ali; Shmueli, Galit
• 署名单位: University of Illinois System; University of Illinois Chicago; University of Illinois Chicago Hospital; National Tsing Hua University
• 刊物名称: INFORMATION SYSTEMS RESEARCH
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1047-7047
• DOI: 10.1287/isre.2023.1236
• 发表日期: 2024
• 关键词: information-technology; Mediation Analysis; firm performance; e-business; inference; adoption; transportability; metaanalysis; DESIGN; graphs

摘要

Transportability is a structural causal modeling approach aimed at transporting a causal effect from a randomized experimental study in one population to a different population where only observational data are available. It offers a way to overcome the practical constraints in inferring causal relationships, such as endogeneity concerns in observational data and the infeasibility of replicating certain experiments. Although transportability holds significant promise for research and practice, it has thus far seldom been implemented in practice, likely because of the lack of practical guidelines for application of transportability theory or the lack of guidance on handling the statistical challenges that might arise. Using a practical problem as an illustration-estimating the effect of telecom muting on worker productivity-we attempt to bridge the theory-practice gap and delineate some challenges faced when putting transportability theory to practice. We offer a detailed procedure for transporting a causal effect across different populations, and we discuss some practical considerations for its implementation, including how to conceptualize causal diagrams, determine the feasibility of transport, select an appropriate diagram, and evaluate its credibility. We also discuss the current limitations, challenges, and opportunities for future research on transportability that would make it more amenable for broad practical use.