Hyperparameter Optimisation with Practical Interpretability and Explanation Methods in Probabilistic Curriculum Learning

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Salt, Llewyn, Gallagher, Marcus
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2025
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author Salt, Llewyn
Gallagher, Marcus
author_facet Salt, Llewyn
Gallagher, Marcus
contents Hyperparameter optimisation (HPO) is crucial for achieving strong performance in reinforcement learning (RL), as RL algorithms are inherently sensitive to hyperparameter settings. Probabilistic Curriculum Learning (PCL) is a curriculum learning strategy designed to improve RL performance by structuring the agent's learning process, yet effective hyperparameter tuning remains challenging and computationally demanding. In this paper, we provide an empirical analysis of hyperparameter interactions and their effects on the performance of a PCL algorithm within standard RL tasks, including point-maze navigation and DC motor control. Using the AlgOS framework integrated with Optuna's Tree-Structured Parzen Estimator (TPE), we present strategies to refine hyperparameter search spaces, enhancing optimisation efficiency. Additionally, we introduce a novel SHAP-based interpretability approach tailored specifically for analysing hyperparameter impacts, offering clear insights into how individual hyperparameters and their interactions influence RL performance. Our work contributes practical guidelines and interpretability tools that significantly improve the effectiveness and computational feasibility of hyperparameter optimisation in reinforcement learning.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2504_06683
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Hyperparameter Optimisation with Practical Interpretability and Explanation Methods in Probabilistic Curriculum Learning
Salt, Llewyn
Gallagher, Marcus
Machine Learning
Artificial Intelligence
Hyperparameter optimisation (HPO) is crucial for achieving strong performance in reinforcement learning (RL), as RL algorithms are inherently sensitive to hyperparameter settings. Probabilistic Curriculum Learning (PCL) is a curriculum learning strategy designed to improve RL performance by structuring the agent's learning process, yet effective hyperparameter tuning remains challenging and computationally demanding. In this paper, we provide an empirical analysis of hyperparameter interactions and their effects on the performance of a PCL algorithm within standard RL tasks, including point-maze navigation and DC motor control. Using the AlgOS framework integrated with Optuna's Tree-Structured Parzen Estimator (TPE), we present strategies to refine hyperparameter search spaces, enhancing optimisation efficiency. Additionally, we introduce a novel SHAP-based interpretability approach tailored specifically for analysing hyperparameter impacts, offering clear insights into how individual hyperparameters and their interactions influence RL performance. Our work contributes practical guidelines and interpretability tools that significantly improve the effectiveness and computational feasibility of hyperparameter optimisation in reinforcement learning.
title Hyperparameter Optimisation with Practical Interpretability and Explanation Methods in Probabilistic Curriculum Learning
topic Machine Learning
Artificial Intelligence
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.06683