Pruning decision tree using genetic algorithms

Jie CHEN, Xizhao WANG, Junhai ZHAI

Research output: Book Chapters | Papers in Conference ProceedingsConference paper (refereed)Referred Conference Paperpeer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Genetic algorithm is one of the commonly used approaches on machine learning. In this paper, we put forward a genetic algorithm approach for pruning decision tree. Binary coding is adopted in which an individual in a population consists of a fixed number of weight that stand for a solution candidate. The evaluation function considers error rate of decision tree over the test set. Three common operators for genetic algorithm such as random mutation and single-point crossover is applied for the population. Finally the algorithm returns an individual with the highest fitness as a local optimal weight. Based on four databases from UCI, we compared our approach with several other traditional decision tree pruning techniques including cost-complexity pruning, Pessimistic Error Pruning and Reduced error pruning. The results show that our approach has an better or equal effect with other pruning method.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings : 2009 International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Computational Intelligence, AICI 2009
PublisherIEEE
Pages244-248
Number of pages5
ISBN (Print)9780769538358
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009
Externally publishedYes
Event2009 International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Computational Intelligence, AICI 2009 - Shanghai, China
Duration: 7 Nov 20098 Nov 2009

Publication series

NameInternational Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Computational Intelligence (AICI)
PublisherIEEE

Conference

Conference2009 International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Computational Intelligence, AICI 2009
Country/TerritoryChina
CityShanghai
Period7/11/098/11/09

Bibliographical note

This research is supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province (F2008000635), by the key project foundation of applied fundamental research of Hebei Province (08963522D), by the plan of 100 excellent innovative scientists of the first group in Education Department of Hebei Province, and by the Scientific Research Foundation of Hebei Province (06213548).

Keywords

  • Genetic algorithm
  • Overfitting
  • Pruning decision tree

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