Addressing Measurement Error Bias in Grouped Continuous Data for Causal Inferences | UW CSSS SEMINAR
Center for Statistics and Social Sciences
Abstract: Applied researchers often analyze ordered categories that discretize continuous quantities (income, time frequencies, biomarkers, exposures). Treating such indices as continuous or imputing bin midpoints are convenient but misleading strategies to estimate marginal effects in regression analyses. This paper characterizes a form of measurement error that arises in those strategies by design, from the sampling mechanism, which induces biased and inconsistent estimations that are model-dependent and a priori unpredictable. I provide a solution to this problem, a calibration method - regularized interval regression - that treats responses as intervals of a latent distribution, and predicts calibrated proxies robust to measurement error biases in downstream linear regressions. Monte Carlo evidence shows that, relative to midpoint imputation and “ordinal-as-continuous,” the calibrated proxy yields unbiased linear estimates, especially in the presence of right-censoring/top-coding. An example based on su…
Event Types: Academics. Lectures/Seminars.
Wednesday, June 3, 2026, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM.
SAV 409.
For more info visit csss.uw.edu. CSSS Seminar - Addressing Measurement Error Bias in Grouped Continuous Data for Causal Inferences
Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology
Ramses Llobet, Ph.D. Candidate in Political Science, UW, Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026 - 12:30 pm
Abstract:
Applied researchers often analyze ordered categories that discretize continuous quantities (income, time frequencies, biomarkers, exposures). Treating such indices as continuous or imputing bin midpoints are convenient but misleading strategies to estimate marginal effects in regression analyses. This paper characterizes a form of measurement error that arises in those strategies by design, from the sampling mechanism, which induces biased and inconsistent estimations that are model-dependent and a priori unpredictable. I provide a solution to this problem, a calibration method - regularized interval regression - that treats responses as intervals of a latent distribution, and predicts calibrated proxies robust to measurement error biases in downstream linear regressions. Monte Carlo evidence shows that, relative to midpoint imputation and “ordinal-as-continuous,” the calibrated proxy yields unbiased…
Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Savery Hall (SAV). Online Meeting Link: https://washington.zoom.us/s/91612004486. Campus room: 409. Accessibility Contact: csss@uw.edu. Event Types: Lectures/Seminars.
Wednesday, June 3, 2026, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM.
For more info visit csss.uw.edu. CSDE Closing Reception 2026: Celebration of Trainees' Accomplishments
Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology
Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Parrington Hall (PAR). Campus room: 320. Accessibility Contact: Maddie Farris - CSDE Program Coordinator (csde-prgm-coord@uw.edu). Event Types: Ceremonies.
Friday, June 5, 2026, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM.
For more info visit csde.washington.edu. June Faculty Meeting
I. Announcements / Updates
A. Review and approve May minutes
B. Chair updates (Crowder)
C. Administrative updates (Mookhtiar)
D. Undergraduate Program update (Crowder)
E. Graduate Program update (Quinn)
II. Old Business, III. New Business, IV. Executive Session.
Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Savery Hall (SAV). Online Meeting Link: https://washington.zoom.us/j/91663439807. Campus room: 409. Accessibility Contact: To request disability accommodation, contact the Disability Services Office at least ten days in advance at: (206) 543-6450/V, (206) 543-6452/TTY, (206) 685-7264 (FAX), or dso@u.washington.edu. Event Types: Meetings. Target Audience: Sociology Faculty.
Wednesday, June 10, 2026, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
Sociology Department Graduation Ceremony
The program at Meany will include:Pre-show with graduating student slides from 6-7pm, Formal Procession of Faculty and Graduating Students, Chair’s Welcome, Department Awards, Hooding of Ph.D. students, Recognition of all Graduates, Recessional, Post-event photo opportunities with Professors, Instructors, TAs, and fellow graduates in the Meany Lobby, Photographs from this event, taken by the department, will be used for promotional and marketing purposes, Find more info here.
Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Meany Hall (MNY). Accessibility Contact: To request disability accommodation, contact the Disability Services Office at least ten days in advance at: (206) 543-6450/V, (206) 543-6452/TTY, (206) 685-7264 (FAX), or dso@u.washington.edu. Event Types: Ceremonies. Target Audience: Sociology Faculty, Graduate Students, Undergraduate Students, Families, and Friends.
Wednesday, June 10, 2026, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM.
Juneteenth
Holidays
No classes. Most University offices and buildings are closed. Check with specific offices to confirm.
Event interval: Single day event. Year: 2026. Quarter: Summer. Event Types: Academics.
Friday, June 19, 2026.
For more info visit www.washington.edu. Independence Day (Observed)
Holidays
No classes. Most University offices and buildings are closed. Check with specific offices to confirm.
Event interval: Single day event. Year: 2026. Quarter: Summer. Event Types: Academics.
Friday, July 3, 2026.
For more info visit www.washington.edu.