Verifying the Assumption of Selected Completely at Random in Positive-Unlabeled Learning

Core Concepts

The core message of this article is to propose a relatively simple and computationally fast test that can be used to determine whether the observed positive-unlabeled (PU) data meet the Selected Completely at Random (SCAR) assumption, which is a crucial step in choosing the appropriate PU learning algorithm.

Abstract

The article focuses on verifying the SCAR assumption in positive-unlabeled (PU) learning. PU learning is a machine learning task where the training data contains positive and unlabeled instances, and the goal is to train a binary classifier.
The key highlights and insights are:

The SCAR assumption states that the propensity score function, which describes the probability of a positive observation being labeled, is constant. This is a simpler assumption compared to the more realistic Selected at Random (SAR) assumption, where the propensity score depends on the feature vector.

The authors propose a two-step testing procedure to verify the SCAR assumption. In the first step, they estimate the set of positive observations among the unlabeled data. In the second step, they generate artificial labels conforming to the SCAR case, which allows them to mimic the distribution of the test statistic under the null hypothesis of SCAR.

The authors consider four different test statistics to measure the divergence between the feature distributions of labeled and positive observations: Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergence, KL divergence with covariance estimation (KLCOV), Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) statistic, and a classifier-based statistic (NB AUC).

Theoretical results justify the method of estimating the set of positive observations and show that if it is estimated correctly, controlling the type I error (probability of rejecting the null hypothesis when it is true) is possible.

Experiments on both artificial and real-world datasets demonstrate that the proposed test successfully detects deviations from the SCAR scenario, while effectively controlling the type I error for most datasets. Among the tested statistics, KS and NB AUC are recommended as they properly control the type I error.

The proposed test can be used as a pre-processing step to decide which PU learning algorithm to choose, as SCAR-based algorithms are much simpler and computationally faster compared to SAR-based algorithms.

Stats

The article does not contain any key metrics or important figures to support the author's key logics.

Quotes

The article does not contain any striking quotes supporting the author's key logics.

Key Insights Distilled From

Verifying the Selected Completely at Random Assumption in Positive-Unlabeled Learning

by Pawe... at arxiv.org 04-02-2024

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2404.00145.pdf

Deeper Inquiries

How would the proposed testing procedure perform if the class prior probability π is unknown and needs to be estimated from the data

In the scenario where the class prior probability π is unknown and needs to be estimated from the data, the proposed testing procedure may face challenges. Estimating π from the data introduces an additional layer of uncertainty and potential bias into the analysis. The accuracy of the estimation of π can significantly impact the performance of the testing procedure.
One approach to address this challenge could involve using a data-driven method to estimate the class prior probability π. This estimation could be based on the observed distribution of labeled and unlabeled instances in the training data. Techniques such as maximum likelihood estimation or cross-validation could be employed to determine the most likely value of π that best fits the data.
However, the accuracy of the estimation of π would need to be carefully validated to ensure that it does not introduce bias or errors into the testing procedure. Sensitivity analysis and robustness checks could be conducted to assess the impact of different estimates of π on the results of the testing procedure.
Overall, in the absence of the true class prior probability π, careful estimation and validation procedures would be essential to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the testing framework.

What are the potential limitations of the SCAR and SAR assumptions, and how could the testing framework be extended to handle more complex labeling mechanisms

The SCAR (Selected Completely at Random) and SAR (Selected at Random) assumptions, while useful in simplifying the modeling of positive-unlabeled (PU) data, have certain limitations that could affect their applicability in real-world scenarios.
One potential limitation of the SCAR assumption is its restrictive nature, assuming a constant propensity score for labeling positive instances. In reality, the labeling mechanism may be more complex and dependent on various factors beyond a simple constant probability. This limitation could lead to inaccuracies in modeling the PU data and may not capture the true underlying labeling process.
On the other hand, the SAR assumption, while more flexible and realistic, may also have limitations. It assumes that the propensity score depends solely on the observed features, which may not always hold true. In cases where the labeling mechanism is influenced by unobserved variables or external factors, the SAR assumption may not accurately capture the true labeling process.
To handle more complex labeling mechanisms beyond SCAR and SAR, the testing framework could be extended by incorporating additional variables or features that may influence the labeling process. This could involve incorporating external data sources, contextual information, or domain knowledge to better understand and model the labeling mechanism. Machine learning techniques such as causal inference or Bayesian modeling could also be utilized to capture the complexity of the labeling process more accurately.
By expanding the testing framework to handle more intricate labeling mechanisms, researchers can gain a deeper understanding of the data and improve the robustness and reliability of the PU learning models.

How could the insights from this work on verifying the SCAR assumption be applied to other machine learning settings beyond positive-unlabeled learning

The insights from this work on verifying the SCAR assumption in positive-unlabeled learning can be applied to other machine learning settings beyond PU learning.

Semi-Supervised Learning: The concept of verifying assumptions about the labeling mechanism can be extended to semi-supervised learning settings. By understanding and validating the assumptions about how labeled and unlabeled data are generated, researchers can improve the performance and reliability of semi-supervised learning algorithms.

Anomaly Detection: In anomaly detection tasks, where positive instances are rare and often unlabeled, verifying assumptions about the distribution of anomalies and normal instances can enhance the accuracy of anomaly detection models. By ensuring that the assumptions about the labeling mechanism are met, the detection of anomalies can be more effective.

Text and Image Classification: In text and image classification tasks, where data may be partially labeled or contain noisy labels, verifying assumptions about the labeling process can help in building more robust and accurate classification models. By understanding how labels are assigned to data instances, researchers can improve the quality of classification algorithms.

By applying the principles of verifying assumptions about the labeling mechanism across different machine learning settings, researchers can enhance the reliability, accuracy, and generalizability of their models.