Efficient Reasoning in Qualitative Probabilistic Networks

Abstract

Qualitative Probabilistic Networks (QPNs) are an abstraction of Bayesian belief networks replacing numerical relations by qualitative influences and synergies [ Wellman, 1990b ] . To reason in a QPN is to find the effect of new evidence on each node in terms of the sign of the change in belief (increase or decrease). We introduce a polynomial time algorithm for reasoning in QPNs, based on local sign propagation. It extends our previous scheme from singly connected to general multiply connected networks. Unlike existing graph-reduction algorithms, it preserves the network structure and determines the effect of evidence on all nodes in the network. This aids meta-level reasoning about the model and automatic generation of intuitive explanations of probabilistic reasoning. Introduction A formal representation should not use more specificity than needed to support the reasoning required of it. The appropriate degree of specificity or numerical precision will vary depending on what kind o...