Instrumental Variables Estimation in Political Science: A Readers' Guide

The use of instrumental variables regression in political science has evolved from an obscure technique to a staple of the political science tool kit. Yet the surge of interest in the instrumental variables method has led to implementation of uneven quality. After providing a brief overview of the m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of political science 2011-01, Vol.55 (1), p.188-200
Main Authors: Sovey, Allison J., Green, Donald P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
AJPS WORKSHOP
Control groups
Diachronic analysis
Encouragement
Estimating techniques
Estimation
Estimators
Graphs
Implementation
Instrumental variables
Instrumental variables estimation
International Relations
Methodology
Natural experiments
Political campaigns
Political Science
Political science research
Quality standards
Rain
Regression analysis
Research design
Review articles
Statistical methods
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Summary:The use of instrumental variables regression in political science has evolved from an obscure technique to a staple of the political science tool kit. Yet the surge of interest in the instrumental variables method has led to implementation of uneven quality. After providing a brief overview of the method and the assumptions on which it rests, we chart the ways in which these assumptions are invoked in practice in political science. We review more than 100 articles published in the American Journal of Political Science, the American Political Science Review, and World Politics over a 24-year span. We discuss in detail two noteworthy applicatioins of instrumental variables regression, calling attention to the statistical assumptions that each invokes. The concluding section proposes reporting standards and provides a checklist for readers to consider as they evaluate applications of this method.
ISSN:0092-5853
1540-5907
DOI:10.1111/j.1540-5907.2010.00477.x