Bounded Fuzzy Possibilistic Method of Critical Objects Processing in Machine Learning

TL;DR

The paper introduces the Bounded Fuzzy Possibilistic Method (BFPM), a novel clustering approach that relaxes traditional membership constraints, enabling better analysis of critical objects and their influence on learning accuracy.

Contribution

It proposes BFPM, a new fuzzy-possibilistic clustering method that removes membership restrictions and introduces critical objects and new similarity functions for improved learning.

Findings

BFPM allows flexible object movement analysis in clustering.

Identification of critical and dominant objects affecting classification.

New similarity functions enhance clustering performance.

Abstract

Unsatisfying accuracy of learning methods is mostly caused by omitting the influence of important parameters such as membership assignments, type of data objects, and distance or similarity functions. The proposed method, called Bounded Fuzzy Possibilistic Method (BFPM) addresses different issues that previous clustering or classification methods have not sufficiently considered in their membership assignments. In fuzzy methods, the object's memberships should sum to 1. Hence, any data object may obtain full membership in at most one cluster or class. Possibilistic methods relax this condition, but the method can be satisfied with the results even if just an arbitrary object obtains the membership from just one cluster, which prevents the objects' movement analysis. Whereas, BFPM differs from previous fuzzy and possibilistic approaches by removing these restrictions. Furthermore, BFPM provides the flexible search space for objects' movement analysis. Data objects are also considered as fundamental keys in learning methods, and knowing the exact type of objects results in providing a suitable environment for learning algorithms. The Thesis introduces a new type of object, called critical, as well as categorizing data objects into two different categories: structural-based and behavioural-based. Critical objects are considered as causes of miss-classification and miss-assignment in learning procedures. The Thesis also proposes new methodologies to study the behaviour of critical objects with the aim of evaluating objects' movements (mutation) from one cluster or class to another. The Thesis also introduces a new type of feature, called dominant, that is considered as one of the causes of miss-classification and miss-assignments. Then the Thesis proposes new sets of similarity functions, called Weighted Feature Distance (WFD) and Prioritized Weighted Feature Distance (PWFD).