TY - JOUR
T1 - Properties of sensitivity analysis of Bayesian belief networks
AU - Coupé, Veerle M.H.
AU - Van der Gaag, Linda C.
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - The assessments for the various conditional probabilities of a Bayesian belief network inevitably are inaccurate, influencing the reliability of its output. By subjecting the network to a sensitivity analysis with respect to its conditional probabilities, the reliability of its output can be investigated. Unfortunately, straightforward sensitivity analysis of a belief network is highly time-consuming. In this paper, we show that by qualitative considerations several analyses can be identified as being uninformative as the conditional probabilities under study cannot affect the output. In addition, we show that the analyses that are informative comply with simple mathematical functions. More specifically, we show that a belief network's output can be expressed as a quotient of two functions that are linear in a conditional probability under study. These properties allow for considerably reducing the computational burden of sensitivity analysis of Bayesian belief networks.
AB - The assessments for the various conditional probabilities of a Bayesian belief network inevitably are inaccurate, influencing the reliability of its output. By subjecting the network to a sensitivity analysis with respect to its conditional probabilities, the reliability of its output can be investigated. Unfortunately, straightforward sensitivity analysis of a belief network is highly time-consuming. In this paper, we show that by qualitative considerations several analyses can be identified as being uninformative as the conditional probabilities under study cannot affect the output. In addition, we show that the analyses that are informative comply with simple mathematical functions. More specifically, we show that a belief network's output can be expressed as a quotient of two functions that are linear in a conditional probability under study. These properties allow for considerably reducing the computational burden of sensitivity analysis of Bayesian belief networks.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0141567484&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016398407857
DO - https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016398407857
M3 - Article
SN - 1012-2443
VL - 36
SP - 323
EP - 356
JO - Annals of Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence
JF - Annals of Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence
IS - 4
ER -