Background
Understanding causal relationships is critical for researchers. Although data from randomized controlled trials is the best way to understand causal relationships, it is often not feasible or ethical to randomly assign a treatment. Unfortunately, results from observational analyses are prone to bias, especially when the primary right-hand-side variable (i.e., the treatment) is correlated with other factors not included in the analysis; this is often referred to as endogeneity. Why is endogeneity a problem? Regression models assume that all right-hand-side variables are exogenous, hence the right-hand-side variables are often referred to as independent variables. When a variable is endogenous (correlated with unobserved variables), it violates an underlying assumption in the statistical model, resulting in biased regression coefficients.
Instrumental Variables
Instrumental variables (IV) is a statistical modeling technique to correct for endogeneity and potentially give causal estimates from observational data. However, IVs can be difficult to identify and have assumptions that need to be met. Below are resources to learn more about instrumental variables.
Learn More
- HERC econometrics seminar: Instrumental Variables (2025) by Kritee Gujral, PhD (VA intranet only, available at https://vaww.hsrd.research.va.gov/for_researchers/cyber_seminars/archives/video_archive.cfm?SessionID=7672)
- HERC econometrics seminar: Instrumental Variables (2023) by Kritee Gujral, PhD
- Heterogeneity of Treatment Effects and Instrumental Variables: The Marginal Patients by Matt Maciejewski, PhD
- Technical Report #29: Instrumental Variables with VA Data (VA intranet only, available at https://vaww.herc.research.va.gov/files/RPRT_770.pdf)
- General guide to insturamental variables from Causal Inference: The Mixtape
Last updated: April 14, 2026
