Citation
Mazaheri, Bijan Henrik Socrates (2024) Combining Sources and Leveraging Contexts. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/7t4d-xg91. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:06042024-004345614
Abstract
In this thesis we discuss two levels of knowledge beyond regression and classification. The first involves the identification of exchangeable scenarios or individuals from which causal relationships can be ascertained. We discuss one key difficulty of this task, the "Multi-Source Conundrum," which emerges whenever data is merged from multiple sources. This motivates the "Principle of Limited Latent Classes," an assumption which allows us to introduce new algorithms for deconfounding and causal structure learning.
The second level of knowledge involves the expansion from contextual exchangeability to contextual synthesis. We will study a paradox of nontransitivity that occurs when combining multiple contexts, as well a demonstrating robustness gains from using context-dependent counterfactuals as training features. Through these points, we present contextual synthesis as a new frontier with promise for advances in out-of-distribution robustness, fairness, and privacy.
Item Type: | Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.)) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Subject Keywords: | Causal Inference, Expert Graphs, Causal Discovery, Mixture Models, Distribution Shift | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Degree Grantor: | California Institute of Technology | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Division: | Engineering and Applied Science | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Major Option: | Computing and Mathematical Sciences | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thesis Availability: | Public (worldwide access) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Defense Date: | 15 August 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-Caltech Author Email: | bijanmazaheri (AT) gmail.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Record Number: | CaltechTHESIS:06042024-004345614 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Persistent URL: | https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:06042024-004345614 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DOI: | 10.7907/7t4d-xg91 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Default Usage Policy: | No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ID Code: | 16496 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Collection: | CaltechTHESIS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deposited By: | Bijan Mazaheri | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deposited On: | 06 Jun 2024 21:49 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last Modified: | 17 Jun 2024 20:32 |
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