English

Computationally Efficient Feature Significance and Importance for Machine Learning Models

Machine Learning 2019-10-15 v2 Machine Learning

Abstract

We develop a simple and computationally efficient significance test for the features of a machine learning model. Our forward-selection approach applies to any model specification, learning task and variable type. The test is non-asymptotic, straightforward to implement, and does not require model refitting. It identifies the statistically significant features as well as feature interactions of any order in a hierarchical manner, and generates a model-free notion of feature importance. Experimental and empirical results illustrate its performance.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1905.09849,
  title  = {Computationally Efficient Feature Significance and Importance for Machine Learning Models},
  author = {Enguerrand Horel and Kay Giesecke},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1905.09849},
  year   = {2019}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-23T09:20:36.901Z