MEANING
Bias in a statistical estimate caused by leaving out a relevant factor correlated with an included predictor.
Use it for
Explain why a model’s estimated relationship may be misleading.Use when discussing how an excluded confounder may distort an estimated relationship.
Words that belong together
- omitted variable bias
- direction of omitted variable bias
- reduce omitted-variable bias
On the page
The wage model’s omitted variable bias likely overstated education’s effect because family background was excluded.
Word forms
- Base
- omitted variable bias
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Usage notes
The omission matters when the missing factor is related to both an included predictor and the outcome; not every omitted variable biases an estimate.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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