Date: 16 April 2026 (Thursday)
Time: 4: 30 pm – 5: 30 pm
Topic: Causal inference with observational data using Stata
Platform: Zoom
Speaker:
Professor Ulrich Kohler
Professor of Methods of Empirical Social Research
Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences
University of Potsdam
Abstract:
The workshop introduces the estimation of causal parameters from observational data through covariate adjustment and demonstrates how Stata's teffects command can be used for this purpose. It begins with a brief introduction to Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs) and the criteria for identifying causal effects. It then goes on explaining why naive covariate adjustment using standard multiple regression has important limitations.
During the workshop, Professor Kohler will replicate simple versions of teffects using regress and extend the approach to more complex cases of regression adjustment. He will also demonstrate how the teffects command can be applied to other estimators, such as inverse probability weighting and various matching methods (exact matching, coarsened exact matching, nearest neighbour matching, and propensity score matching).
Participants should have good prior knowledge of multiple linear regression and be familiar with the counterfactual concept of causality. They should also be comfortable working with Stata, including loading data and performing basic data management tasks. Familiarity with core statistical commands such as summarize, tabulate, and regress is required, as is an understanding of factor variable notation.
Ulrich Kohler is Professor of Methods of Empirical Social Research at the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences of the University of Potsdam. His research focuses on quantitative methods, causal inference, and social inequality. He has contributed extensively to the development and application of statistical methods in the social sciences, with a particular emphasis on the analysis of observational data. He is also an experienced instructor in statistical software, especially Stata, and regularly teaches workshops on advanced data analysis techniques. Ulrich Kohler is author of the textbook “Data Analysis Using Stata” and editor of “Survey Research Methods”.
