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Refactored scikit-learn flavour of DifferenceInDifferences and allowed custom column names for post_treatment variable. #515

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103 changes: 92 additions & 11 deletions causalpy/experiments/diff_in_diff.py
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
Difference in differences
"""

import re

import arviz as az
import numpy as np
import pandas as pd
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -84,6 +86,7 @@ def __init__(
formula: str,
time_variable_name: str,
group_variable_name: str,
post_treatment_variable_name: str = "post_treatment",
model=None,
**kwargs,
) -> None:
Expand All @@ -95,6 +98,7 @@ def __init__(
self.formula = formula
self.time_variable_name = time_variable_name
self.group_variable_name = group_variable_name
self.post_treatment_variable_name = post_treatment_variable_name
self.input_validation()

y, X = dmatrices(formula, self.data)
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -128,6 +132,12 @@ def __init__(
}
self.model.fit(X=self.X, y=self.y, coords=COORDS)
elif isinstance(self.model, RegressorMixin):
# For scikit-learn models, automatically set fit_intercept=False
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Nice

# This ensures the intercept is included in the coefficients array rather than being a separate intercept_ attribute
# without this, the intercept is not included in the coefficients array hence would be displayed as 0 in the model summary
# TODO: later, this should be handled in ScikitLearnAdaptor itself
if hasattr(self.model, "fit_intercept"):
self.model.fit_intercept = False
self.model.fit(X=self.X, y=self.y)
else:
raise ValueError("Model type not recognized")
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -173,7 +183,7 @@ def __init__(
# just the treated group
.query(f"{self.group_variable_name} == 1")
# just the treatment period(s)
.query("post_treatment == True")
.query(f"{self.post_treatment_variable_name} == True")
# drop the outcome variable
.drop(self.outcome_variable_name, axis=1)
# We may have multiple units per time point, we only want one time point
Expand All @@ -189,7 +199,10 @@ def __init__(
# INTERVENTION: set the interaction term between the group and the
# post_treatment variable to zero. This is the counterfactual.
for i, label in enumerate(self.labels):
if "post_treatment" in label and self.group_variable_name in label:
if (
self.post_treatment_variable_name in label
and self.group_variable_name in label
):
new_x.iloc[:, i] = 0
self.y_pred_counterfactual = self.model.predict(np.asarray(new_x))

Expand All @@ -198,31 +211,44 @@ def __init__(
# This is the coefficient on the interaction term
coeff_names = self.model.idata.posterior.coords["coeffs"].data
for i, label in enumerate(coeff_names):
if "post_treatment" in label and self.group_variable_name in label:
if (
self.post_treatment_variable_name in label
and self.group_variable_name in label
):
self.causal_impact = self.model.idata.posterior["beta"].isel(
{"coeffs": i}
)
elif isinstance(self.model, RegressorMixin):
# This is the coefficient on the interaction term
# TODO: CHECK FOR CORRECTNESS
self.causal_impact = (
self.y_pred_treatment[1] - self.y_pred_counterfactual[0]
).item()
# Store the coefficient into dictionary {intercept:value}
coef_map = dict(zip(self.labels, self.model.get_coeffs()))
# Create and find the interaction term based on the values user provided
interaction_term = (
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Nice. We'll need more tests anyway to ensure test coverage, so when you do that can you add cases for when people specify formulas like post_treatment:a and post_treatment*b. It should work because we'll always get a coefficient for post_treatment:a, but it is worth adding the test

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Yeah, will add some tests for a cases where a user provides post treatment variable name and check for FormulaExeption and DataException

but @drbenvincent can you elaborate on this specific test. Are we also checking the coefficient value where two interaction terms are used?

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I'd not thought of that. I guess it's easy to find and interaction term of the post treatment variable and something else. But if there are two interaction terms, both including the post treatment variable, then that might get messy. Can we think of any situations where that be a good idea? If not, then maybe that could throw and exception and we just say we can't deal with a formula like that?

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Since our users can write any formula freely—unlike other libraries that rely on closed systems—they could specify any formula like post_treatment * group + post_treatment * group * male which might be uncommon but it’s entirely possible in our setup.

The users can obtain estimates for exactly what they define in the formula. However, we’ve built this did object specifically for two-way Diff-in-diff with a single interaction term ?-- thus the other features might get messed up as you said.

So yeah @drbenvincent I agree that we could throw exception if we encounter any two interaction term with post_treatment to move forward

f"{self.group_variable_name}:{self.post_treatment_variable_name}"
)
matched_key = next((k for k in coef_map if interaction_term in k), None)
att = coef_map.get(matched_key)
self.causal_impact = att
else:
raise ValueError("Model type not recognized")

return

def input_validation(self):
# Validate formula structure and interaction interaction terms
self._validate_formula_interaction_terms()

"""Validate the input data and model formula for correctness"""
if "post_treatment" not in self.formula:
# Check if post_treatment_variable_name is in formula
if self.post_treatment_variable_name not in self.formula:
raise FormulaException(
"A predictor called `post_treatment` should be in the formula"
f"Missing required variable '{self.post_treatment_variable_name}' in formula"
)

if "post_treatment" not in self.data.columns:
# Check if post_treatment_variable_name is in data columns
if self.post_treatment_variable_name not in self.data.columns:
raise DataException(
"Require a boolean column labelling observations which are `treated`"
f"Missing required column '{self.post_treatment_variable_name}' in dataset"
)

if "unit" not in self.data.columns:
Expand All @@ -236,6 +262,61 @@ def input_validation(self):
coded. Consisting of 0's and 1's only."""
)

def _get_interaction_terms(self):
"""
Extract interaction terms from the formula.
Returns a list of interaction terms (those with '*' or ':').
"""
# Define interaction indicators
INTERACTION_INDICATORS = ["*", ":"]

# Remove whitespace
formula = self.formula.replace(" ", "")

# Extract right-hand side of the formula
rhs = formula.split("~")[1]

# Split terms by '+' or '-' while keeping them intact
terms = re.split(r"(?=[+-])", rhs)

# Clean up terms and get interaction terms (those with '*' or ':')
interaction_terms = []
for term in terms:
# Remove leading + or - for processing
clean_term = term.lstrip("+-")
if any(indicator in clean_term for indicator in INTERACTION_INDICATORS):
interaction_terms.append(clean_term)

return interaction_terms

def _validate_formula_interaction_terms(self):
"""
Validate that the formula contains at most one interaction term and no three-way or higher-order interactions.
Raises FormulaException if more than one interaction term is found or if any interaction term has more than 2 variables.
"""
# Define interaction indicators
INTERACTION_INDICATORS = ["*", ":"]

# Get interaction terms
interaction_terms = self._get_interaction_terms()

# Check for interaction terms with more than 2 variables (more than one '*' or ':')
for term in interaction_terms:
total_indicators = sum(
term.count(indicator) for indicator in INTERACTION_INDICATORS
)
if (
total_indicators >= 2
): # 3 or more variables (e.g., a*b*c or a:b:c has 2 symbols)
raise FormulaException(
f"Formula contains interaction term with more than 2 variables: {term}. Only two-way interactions are allowed."
)

if len(interaction_terms) > 1:
raise FormulaException(
f"Formula contains more than 1 interaction term: {interaction_terms}. Maximum of 1 allowed."
)

def summary(self, round_to=None) -> None:
"""Print summary of main results and model coefficients.

Expand Down
119 changes: 117 additions & 2 deletions causalpy/tests/test_input_validation.py
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -30,18 +30,29 @@


def test_did_validation_post_treatment_formula():
"""Test that we get a FormulaException if do not include post_treatment in the
formula"""
"""Test that we get a FormulaException for invalid formulas and missing post_treatment variables"""
df = pd.DataFrame(
{
"group": [0, 0, 1, 1],
"t": [0, 1, 0, 1],
"unit": [0, 0, 1, 1],
"post_treatment": [0, 1, 0, 1],
"male": [0, 1, 0, 1], # Additional variable for testing
"y": [1, 2, 3, 4],
}
)

df_with_custom = pd.DataFrame(
{
"group": [0, 0, 1, 1],
"t": [0, 1, 0, 1],
"unit": [0, 0, 1, 1],
"custom_post": [0, 1, 0, 1], # Custom column name
"y": [1, 2, 3, 4],
}
)

# Test 1: Missing post_treatment variable in formula
with pytest.raises(FormulaException):
_ = cp.DifferenceInDifferences(
df,
Expand All @@ -51,6 +62,7 @@ def test_did_validation_post_treatment_formula():
model=cp.pymc_models.LinearRegression(sample_kwargs=sample_kwargs),
)

# Test 2: Missing post_treatment variable in formula (duplicate test)
with pytest.raises(FormulaException):
_ = cp.DifferenceInDifferences(
df,
Expand All @@ -60,6 +72,88 @@ def test_did_validation_post_treatment_formula():
model=cp.pymc_models.LinearRegression(sample_kwargs=sample_kwargs),
)

# Test 3: Custom post_treatment_variable_name but formula uses different name
with pytest.raises(FormulaException):
_ = cp.DifferenceInDifferences(
df_with_custom,
formula="y ~ 1 + group*post_treatment", # Formula uses 'post_treatment'
time_variable_name="t",
group_variable_name="group",
post_treatment_variable_name="custom_post", # But user specifies 'custom_post'
model=cp.pymc_models.LinearRegression(sample_kwargs=sample_kwargs),
)

# Test 4: Default post_treatment_variable_name but formula uses different name
with pytest.raises(FormulaException):
_ = cp.DifferenceInDifferences(
df,
formula="y ~ 1 + group*custom_post", # Formula uses 'custom_post'
time_variable_name="t",
group_variable_name="group",
# post_treatment_variable_name defaults to "post_treatment"
model=cp.pymc_models.LinearRegression(sample_kwargs=sample_kwargs),
)

# Test 5: Repeated interaction terms (should be invalid)
with pytest.raises(FormulaException):
_ = cp.DifferenceInDifferences(
df,
formula="y ~ 1 + group + group*post_treatment + group*post_treatment",
time_variable_name="t",
group_variable_name="group",
model=cp.pymc_models.LinearRegression(sample_kwargs=sample_kwargs),
)

# Test 6: Three-way interactions using * (should be invalid)
with pytest.raises(FormulaException):
_ = cp.DifferenceInDifferences(
df,
formula="y ~ 1 + group + group*post_treatment*male",
time_variable_name="t",
group_variable_name="group",
model=cp.pymc_models.LinearRegression(sample_kwargs=sample_kwargs),
)

# Test 7: Three-way interactions using : (should be invalid)
with pytest.raises(FormulaException):
_ = cp.DifferenceInDifferences(
df,
formula="y ~ 1 + group + group:post_treatment:male",
time_variable_name="t",
group_variable_name="group",
model=cp.pymc_models.LinearRegression(sample_kwargs=sample_kwargs),
)

# Test 8: Multiple different interaction terms using * (should be invalid)
with pytest.raises(FormulaException):
_ = cp.DifferenceInDifferences(
df,
formula="y ~ 1 + group + group*post_treatment + group*male",
time_variable_name="t",
group_variable_name="group",
model=cp.pymc_models.LinearRegression(sample_kwargs=sample_kwargs),
)

# Test 9: Multiple different interaction terms using : (should be invalid)
with pytest.raises(FormulaException):
_ = cp.DifferenceInDifferences(
df,
formula="y ~ 1 + group + group:post_treatment + group:male",
time_variable_name="t",
group_variable_name="group",
model=cp.pymc_models.LinearRegression(sample_kwargs=sample_kwargs),
)

# Test 10: Mixed issues - multiple terms + three-way interaction (should be invalid)
with pytest.raises(FormulaException):
_ = cp.DifferenceInDifferences(
df,
formula="y ~ 1 + group + group*post_treatment + group:post_treatment:male",
time_variable_name="t",
group_variable_name="group",
model=cp.pymc_models.LinearRegression(sample_kwargs=sample_kwargs),
)


def test_did_validation_post_treatment_data():
"""Test that we get a DataException if do not include post_treatment in the data"""
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -91,6 +185,27 @@ def test_did_validation_post_treatment_data():
model=cp.pymc_models.LinearRegression(sample_kwargs=sample_kwargs),
)

# Test 2: Custom post_treatment_variable_name but column doesn't exist in data
df_with_post = pd.DataFrame(
{
"group": [0, 0, 1, 1],
"t": [0, 1, 0, 1],
"unit": [0, 0, 1, 1],
"post_treatment": [0, 1, 0, 1], # Data has 'post_treatment'
"y": [1, 2, 3, 4],
}
)

with pytest.raises(DataException):
_ = cp.DifferenceInDifferences(
df_with_post,
formula="y ~ 1 + group*custom_post", # Formula uses 'custom_post'
time_variable_name="t",
group_variable_name="group",
post_treatment_variable_name="custom_post", # User specifies 'custom_post'
model=cp.pymc_models.LinearRegression(sample_kwargs=sample_kwargs),
)


def test_did_validation_unit_data():
"""Test that we get a DataException if do not include unit in the data"""
Expand Down
8 changes: 4 additions & 4 deletions docs/source/_static/interrogate_badge.svg
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