<p>In a standard treatment effects set up there are only two options to compare: Either the subject is treated or the subject is non-treated.</p>
<p>Multi-valued treatment happens when subjects are not only treated but potentially treated in different ways. If there are two pills people can eat they can either eat one or the other or none (assuming eating both is disallowed by construction). In that case there are two treatments and one non-treatment.</p>
<p>Multi-valued treatment can also be ordinal. Assuming one pill is a higher dose of the same than the other pill, then individuals taking the high dose pill are treated 'more' than those who take low dose pill.</p>
<p>Finally, treatment can be continuous when the medicine in the pills are given in continuous sized dose here there are uncountably many potential treatment values.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-28T16:34:32.940Z
The current 2-part vaccines are a multi-value treatment. One can get: 0 vaccines, 1 vaccine, 2 vaccines.  Each has its own level of effect on COVID.
RegressForward
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-28T16:49:32.923Z
Yes, sure. How does that add anything not already included in the answer?
Jesper Hybel
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-28T16:53:29.947Z
It's an exact, current example as opposed to a general, hypothetical one.  That's why I added it as a comment.
RegressForward
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-28T16:55:21.423Z
Fair point ....
Jesper Hybel
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-28T16:22:30.170Z
2021-06-28T16:22:30.170Z
Jesper Hybel
<p>The definition from Wikipedia about <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multivalued_treatment" rel="nofollow noreferrer">multi-valued treatment</a> is quite ambiguous to me, is there any other simpler definition or intuitive example for this term?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-28T16:08:02.583Z
If you cannot tell what it is you find "non-intuitive" how exactly are people supposed to help you? As it is this is very low effort question.
bomadsen
<nonexpert><treatment-effect>
Is there any intuitive example for multi-valued treatment?
Phil Nguyen
# Is there any intuitive example for multi-valued treatment?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-06-27)

The definition from Wikipedia about [multi-valued treatment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multivalued_treatment) is quite ambiguous to me, is there any other simpler definition or intuitive example for this term?

**Tags:** nonexpert, treatment-effect

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: If you cannot tell what it is you find "non-intuitive" how exactly are people supposed to help you? As it is this is very low effort question.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2021-06-28. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

In a standard treatment effects set up there are only two options to compare: Either the subject is treated or the subject is non-treated.

Multi-valued treatment happens when subjects are not only treated but potentially treated in different ways. If there are two pills people can eat they can either eat one or the other or none (assuming eating both is disallowed by construction). In that case there are two treatments and one non-treatment.

Multi-valued treatment can also be ordinal. Assuming one pill is a higher dose of the same than the other pill, then individuals taking the high dose pill are treated 'more' than those who take low dose pill.

Finally, treatment can be continuous when the medicine in the pills are given in continuous sized dose here there are uncountably many potential treatment values.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: The current 2-part vaccines are a multi-value treatment. One can get: 0 vaccines, 1 vaccine, 2 vaccines.  Each has its own level of effect on COVID.  
> **username_2**: Yes, sure. How does that add anything not already included in the answer?  
> **username_3**: It's an exact, current example as opposed to a general, hypothetical one.  That's why I added it as a comment.  
> **username_2**: Fair point ....  

---

