Machine Learning Coffee seminar "Inverse Modeling in Behavioral Sciences and HCI"

Inverse Modeling in Behavioral Sciences and HCI

Abstract: Can one make deep inferences about a person based only on observations of how she acts? I discuss methodology for inverse modeling in behavioral sciences, where the goal is to estimate a cognitive model from limited behavioral data. Given substantial diversity in people's intentions, strategies and abilities, this is a difficult problem and previously unaddressed. I discuss advances achieved with an approach that combines (1) computational rationality, to predict how a person adapts to a task when her capabilities are known, and (2) Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) to estimate those capabilities. The benefit is that model parameters are conditioned on both prior knowledge and observations, which improves model validity and helps identify causes for observations. Inverse modeling methods can advance theory-formation by bringing complex behavior within reach of modeling. This talk is based on on-going collaborations with Antti Kangasraasio, Samuel Kaski, Jukka Corander, Andrew Howes, Kumaripaba Athukorala, Jussi Jokinen, Sayan Sarcar, and Xiangshi Ren.

Machine Learning Coffee seminars are weekly seminars held jointly by the Aalto University and the University of Helsinki. The seminars aim to gather people from different fields of science with interest in machine learning. Seminars will be held on Mondays at 9 am at Aalto University and the University of Helsinki every other week. At Aalto University, talks will be held in Konemiehentie 2, seminar room T5 and at the University of Helsinki in Kumpula, seminar room D123, unless otherwise noted. Talks will begin at 9:15 am and porridge and coffee will be served from 9:00 am.

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