# Add a caliper, that need not be symmetric, to a distance object. Imposes a caliper, that need not be symmetric, on p using a penalty function, adding the penalty to a distance matrix dmat and returning a new distance matrix. The symmetric version of this function is discussed in Rosenbaum (2010). ```r addcaliper(dist, z, dx, rg, stdev = FALSE, penalty = 1000) ``` ## Arguments - `dist`: A distance object with three components: d, start, end, typically created by maha_dense or maha_sparse. d[i] gives the distance between the (start[i])th treated and the (end[i]-sum(z))th control. - `z`: A vector whose ith coordinate is 1 for a treated unit and is 0 for a control. Must have treated subjects (z = 1) before controls (z = 0). - `dx`: A vector of with length(z)=length(dx) giving the variable used to define the caliper. For instance, dx might be the propensity score. - `rg`: A vector with length(rg) = 2 such that rg[1] <= 0 <= rg[2]. If the treated-minus-control difference in dx is < rg[1] or > rg[2], then penalty is added to the distance. If treated individuals have dx higher than controls, then you want to set rg[2] < -rg[1], so that you tolerate smaller positive differences and larger negative differences. - `stdev`: If stdev = TRUE, rg is interpreted in units of an equally weighted pooled standard deviation; that is,rg is replaced by rg*sp where sp is sqrt((var(dx[z==1])+var(dx[z==0]))/2). - `penalty`: The number added to a distance when the caliper is violated. A large penalty, like the default value of penalty = 1000, will try to enforce the caliper to the extent that this is feasible. Small penalties can slightly tilt a match in a desired direction. ## Returns Returns a new distance object whose distance component d is updated by the sum of d and the penalties for caliper violations. ## Examples ```r data("nh0506Homocysteine") attach(nh0506Homocysteine) X<-cbind(female, age, black, education, povertyr, bmi) p<-glm(z ~ female + age + black + education + povertyr + bmi, family = binomial)$fitted.values d<-cbind(nh0506Homocysteine, p) detach(nh0506Homocysteine) dist0<-maha_dense(d$z, X) #symmetric caliper dist1<-addcaliper(dist0, d$z, d$p, c(-.3,.3), stdev = TRUE, penalty = 1000) head(dist1$d) #asymmetric caliper dist2<-addcaliper(dist0, d$z, d$p, c(-.5,.1), stdev = TRUE, penalty = 1000) head(dist2$d) ``` ## References Yu, R., & Rosenbaum, P. R. (2019). Directional penalties for optimal matching in observational studies. Biometrics, 75(4), 1380-1390. Rosenbaum, P. R. (2010) Design of Observational Studies. New York: Springer.

addcaliper function