instrument relevance.

In an instrumental-variable study, the requirement that the instrument meaningfully predicts or changes the treatment received.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• instrument relevance assumption
• assess instrument relevance
• weak instrument

On the page

The team checked instrument relevance by confirming that the encouragement increased treatment uptake.

Usage notes

Relevance is typically assessed through the first stage; it does not establish independence or the exclusion restriction.