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Hauptverfasser: Ye, Chuyun, Zhu, Lixing, Zhu, Ruoqing
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2024
Schlagworte:
Online-Zugang:https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.14684
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author Ye, Chuyun
Zhu, Lixing
Zhu, Ruoqing
author_facet Ye, Chuyun
Zhu, Lixing
Zhu, Ruoqing
contents The Markov assumption in Markov Decision Processes (MDPs) is fundamental in reinforcement learning, influencing both theoretical research and practical applications. Existing methods that rely on the Bellman equation benefit tremendously from this assumption for policy evaluation and inference. Testing the Markov assumption or selecting the appropriate order is important for further analysis. Existing tests primarily utilize sequential hypothesis testing methodology, increasing the tested order if the previously-tested one is rejected. However, This methodology cumulates type-I and type-II errors in sequential testing procedures that cause inconsistent order estimation, even with large sample sizes. To tackle this challenge, we develop a procedure that consistently distinguishes the true order from others. We first propose a novel estimator that equivalently represents any order Markov assumption. Based on this estimator, we thus construct a signal function and an associated signal statistic to achieve estimation consistency. Additionally, the curve pattern of the signal statistic facilitates easy visualization, assisting the order determination process in practice. Numerical studies validate the efficacy of our approach.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2409_14684
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Consistent Order Determination of Markov Decision Process
Ye, Chuyun
Zhu, Lixing
Zhu, Ruoqing
Methodology
The Markov assumption in Markov Decision Processes (MDPs) is fundamental in reinforcement learning, influencing both theoretical research and practical applications. Existing methods that rely on the Bellman equation benefit tremendously from this assumption for policy evaluation and inference. Testing the Markov assumption or selecting the appropriate order is important for further analysis. Existing tests primarily utilize sequential hypothesis testing methodology, increasing the tested order if the previously-tested one is rejected. However, This methodology cumulates type-I and type-II errors in sequential testing procedures that cause inconsistent order estimation, even with large sample sizes. To tackle this challenge, we develop a procedure that consistently distinguishes the true order from others. We first propose a novel estimator that equivalently represents any order Markov assumption. Based on this estimator, we thus construct a signal function and an associated signal statistic to achieve estimation consistency. Additionally, the curve pattern of the signal statistic facilitates easy visualization, assisting the order determination process in practice. Numerical studies validate the efficacy of our approach.
title Consistent Order Determination of Markov Decision Process
topic Methodology
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.14684