arXiv:2502.19741cs.LG2025-02被引 3

无需强假设,通过网络互动模式恢复隐变量,精准估计网络干扰下的因果效应。

Causal Effect Estimation under Networked Interference without Networked Unconfoundedness Assumption

  • 利用网络中单位间的交互模式,识别三类隐性混杂因素。
  • 理论证明三类隐变量可识别,且基于此实现网络因果效应的正式识别。
  • 适用于存在网络干扰但缺乏完整观测数据的因果推断场景。

从观察数据中估计网络干扰下的因果效应是一个关键但具有挑战性的问题。现有方法主要依赖网络无混淆假设,该假设可保证网络效应的可识别性,但常因观察数据中的潜在混杂因素而被违背,从而阻碍网络效应的识别。为解决此问题,我们利用网络中单位间丰富的交互模式,这些模式能提供恢复潜在混杂因素的关键信息。基于这一洞察,我们构建了一个混杂因素恢复框架,明确刻画了三类网络设定中的潜在混杂因素:仅影响个体自身、仅影响邻居、同时影响两者。基于该框架,我们设计了一种使用可识别表示学习技术的网络效应估计器。理论上,我们证明了三类潜在混杂因素的可识别性,并借助恢复出的混杂因素,建立了网络效应的正式识别结果。大量实验验证了理论发现,并展示了所提方法的有效性。

原文摘要 · Abstract (English)

Estimating causal effects under networked interference from observational data is a crucial yet challenging problem. Most existing methods mainly rely on the networked unconfoundedness assumption, which guarantees the identification of networked effects. However, this assumption is often violated due to the latent confounders inherent in observational data, thereby hindering the identification of networked effects. To address this issue, we leverage the rich interaction patterns between units in networks, which provide valuable information for recovering these latent confounders. Building on this insight, we develop a confounder recovery framework that explicitly characterizes three categories of latent confounders in networked settings: those affecting only the unit, those affecting only the unit's neighbors, and those influencing both. Based on this framework, we design a networked effect estimator using identifiable representation learning techniques. From a theoretical standpoint, we prove the identifiability of all three types of latent confounders and, by leveraging the recovered confounders, establish a formal identification result for networked effects. Extensive experiments validate our theoretical findings and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

因果推断网络干扰隐变量恢复

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