Rough Set Theory and Soft Computing Methods for Building Explainable and Interpretable AI/ML Models

This study introduces a novel framework leveraging Rough Set Theory (RST)-based feature selection—MLReduct, MLSpecialReduct, and MLFuzzyRoughSet—to enhance machine learning performance on uncertain data. Applied to a private cardiovascular dataset, our MLSpecialReduct algorithm achieves a peak Rando...

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Main Authors: Sami Naouali, Oussama El Othmani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/9/5148
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author Sami Naouali
Oussama El Othmani
author_facet Sami Naouali
Oussama El Othmani
author_sort Sami Naouali
collection DOAJ
description This study introduces a novel framework leveraging Rough Set Theory (RST)-based feature selection—MLReduct, MLSpecialReduct, and MLFuzzyRoughSet—to enhance machine learning performance on uncertain data. Applied to a private cardiovascular dataset, our MLSpecialReduct algorithm achieves a peak Random Forest accuracy of 0.99 (versus 0.85 without feature selection), while MLFuzzyRoughSet improves accuracy to 0.83, surpassing our MLVarianceThreshold (0.72–0.77), an adaptation of the traditional VarianceThreshold method. We integrate these RST techniques with preprocessing (discretization, normalization, encoding) and compare them against traditional approaches across classifiers like Random Forest and Naive Bayes. The results underscore RST’s edge in accuracy, efficiency, and interpretability, with MLSpecialReduct leading in minimal attribute reduction. Against baseline classifiers without feature selection and MLVarianceThreshold, our framework delivers significant improvements, establishing RST as a vital tool for explainable AI (XAI) in healthcare diagnostics and IoT systems. These findings open avenues for future hybrid RST-ML models, providing a robust, interpretable solution for complex data challenges.
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spelling doaj-art-70f1a211249d47f5a5be704ebae261d32025-08-20T02:59:11ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-05-01159514810.3390/app15095148Rough Set Theory and Soft Computing Methods for Building Explainable and Interpretable AI/ML ModelsSami Naouali0Oussama El Othmani1Information Systems Department, College of Computer Science and Information Technology, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa 31982, Saudi ArabiaInformation Systems Department, Military Academy of Fondouk Jedid, Nabeul 8012, TunisiaThis study introduces a novel framework leveraging Rough Set Theory (RST)-based feature selection—MLReduct, MLSpecialReduct, and MLFuzzyRoughSet—to enhance machine learning performance on uncertain data. Applied to a private cardiovascular dataset, our MLSpecialReduct algorithm achieves a peak Random Forest accuracy of 0.99 (versus 0.85 without feature selection), while MLFuzzyRoughSet improves accuracy to 0.83, surpassing our MLVarianceThreshold (0.72–0.77), an adaptation of the traditional VarianceThreshold method. We integrate these RST techniques with preprocessing (discretization, normalization, encoding) and compare them against traditional approaches across classifiers like Random Forest and Naive Bayes. The results underscore RST’s edge in accuracy, efficiency, and interpretability, with MLSpecialReduct leading in minimal attribute reduction. Against baseline classifiers without feature selection and MLVarianceThreshold, our framework delivers significant improvements, establishing RST as a vital tool for explainable AI (XAI) in healthcare diagnostics and IoT systems. These findings open avenues for future hybrid RST-ML models, providing a robust, interpretable solution for complex data challenges.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/9/5148rough set theoryMLReductMLSpecialReductMLFuzzyRoughSetfeature selectioninterpretability
spellingShingle Sami Naouali
Oussama El Othmani
Rough Set Theory and Soft Computing Methods for Building Explainable and Interpretable AI/ML Models
Applied Sciences
rough set theory
MLReduct
MLSpecialReduct
MLFuzzyRoughSet
feature selection
interpretability
title Rough Set Theory and Soft Computing Methods for Building Explainable and Interpretable AI/ML Models
title_full Rough Set Theory and Soft Computing Methods for Building Explainable and Interpretable AI/ML Models
title_fullStr Rough Set Theory and Soft Computing Methods for Building Explainable and Interpretable AI/ML Models
title_full_unstemmed Rough Set Theory and Soft Computing Methods for Building Explainable and Interpretable AI/ML Models
title_short Rough Set Theory and Soft Computing Methods for Building Explainable and Interpretable AI/ML Models
title_sort rough set theory and soft computing methods for building explainable and interpretable ai ml models
topic rough set theory
MLReduct
MLSpecialReduct
MLFuzzyRoughSet
feature selection
interpretability
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/9/5148
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AT oussamaelothmani roughsettheoryandsoftcomputingmethodsforbuildingexplainableandinterpretableaimlmodels