Utility-Based Learning from Data provides a pedagogical, self-contained discussion of probability estimation methods via a coherent approach from the viewpoint of a decision maker who acts in an uncertain environment. This approach is motivated by the idea that probabilistic models are usually not learned for their own sake; rather, they are used to make decisions. Specifically, the authors adopt the point of view of a decision maker who
(i) operates in an uncertain environment where the consequences of every possible outcome are explicitly monetized,
(ii) bases his decisions on a probabilistic model, and
(iii) builds and assesses his models accordingly.These assumptions are naturally expressed in the language of utility theory, which is well known from finance and decision theory. By taking this point of view, the book sheds light on and generalizes some popular statistical learning approaches, connecting ideas from information theory, statistics, and finance. It strikes a balance between rigor and intuition, conveying the main ideas to as wide an audience as possible.
- ISBN10 0367452324
- ISBN13 9780367452322
- Publish Date 25 November 2019 (first published 1 January 2010)
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
- Imprint CRC Press
- Format Paperback
- Pages 417
- Language English