Does the dataset meet your expectations? Explaining sample representation in image data

Since the behavior of a neural network model is adversely affected by a lack of diversity in training data, we present a method that identifies and explains such deficiencies. When a dataset is labeled, we note that annotations alone are capable of providing a human interpretable summary of sample diversity. This allows explaining any lack of diversity as the mismatch found when comparing the \textit{actual} distribution of annotations in the dataset with an \textit{expected} distribution of annotations, specified manually to capture essential label diversity. While, in many practical cases, labeling (samples $\rightarrow$ annotations) is expensive, its inverse, simulation (annotations $\rightarrow$ samples) can be cheaper. By mapping the expected distribution of annotations into test samples using parametric simulation, we present a method that explains sample representation using the mismatch in diversity between simulated and collected data. We then apply the method to examine a dataset of geometric shapes to qualitatively and quantitatively explain sample representation in terms of comprehensible aspects such as size, position, and pixel brightness.