Constructing Cost-Sensitive Fuzzy-Rule-Based Systems for Pattern Classification Problems

We evaluate the performance of cost-sensitive fuzzy-rule-based systems for pattern classification problems. We assume that a misclassification cost is given a priori for each training pattern. The task of classification thus becomes to minimize both classification error and misclassification cost. We examine the performance of two types of fuzzy classification based on fuzzy if-then rules generated from training patterns. The difference is whether or not they consider misclassification costs in rule generation. In our computational experiments, we use several specifications of misclassification cost to evaluate the performance of the two classifiers. Experimental results show that both classification error and misclassification cost are reduced by considering the misclassification cost in fuzzy rule generation.