# Coverage-based Outlier Explanation

Source: [Coverage-based Outlier Explanation](<https://www.sota2.com/research/paper/68fa66981e209131cea11375>)

Collection index: [llms.txt](<https://www.sota2.com/research/llms.txt>)

Data updated: 2026-01-04T03:12:00.173Z

Authors: Yue Wu, Leman Akoglu, Ian Davidson

Published: 2019-11-06T20:19:00.000Z

## Abstract

Outlier detection is a core task in data mining with a plethora of algorithms that have enjoyed wide scale usage. Existing algorithms are primarily focused on detection, that is the identification of outliers in a given dataset. In this paper we explore the relatively under-studied problem of the outlier explanation problem. Our goal is, given a dataset that is already divided into outliers and normal instances, explain what characterizes the outliers. We explore the novel direction of a semantic explanation that a domain expert or policy maker is able to understand. We formulate this as an optimization problem to find explanations that are both interpretable and pure. Through experiments on real-world data sets, we quantitatively show that our method can efficiently generate better explanations compared with rule-based learners.

## Recorded benchmark results

A research result applies to its stated dataset, split, metric and evaluation configuration. Compare like-for-like settings, preserve the metric's unit and direction, and distinguish paper-reported results from independent reproduction. The best result recorded here is not a claim of exhaustive, current global coverage.

- [Outlier Explanation on HEART DISEASE](<https://www.sota2.com/research/sota/outlier-explanation-on-heart-disease.md>): Outlier Explanation; HEART DISEASE; MDL: 642.

- [Outlier Explanation on CENSUS (Group 1)](<https://www.sota2.com/research/sota/outlier-explanation-on-census-group-1.md>): Outlier Explanation; CENSUS (Group 1); FUO: 40.

- [Outlier Explanation on CENSUS (Group 2)](<https://www.sota2.com/research/sota/outlier-explanation-on-census-group-2.md>): Outlier Explanation; CENSUS (Group 2); FUO: 0.37.

- [Outlier Explanation on READMISSION (Outlier Group 1)](<https://www.sota2.com/research/sota/outlier-explanation-on-readmission-outlier-group-1.md>): Outlier Explanation; READMISSION (Outlier Group 1); FUO: 5.

- [Outlier Explanation on CENSUS (Group 3)](<https://www.sota2.com/research/sota/outlier-explanation-on-census-group-3.md>): Outlier Explanation; CENSUS (Group 3); FUO: 0.01.

- [Outlier Explanation on READMISSION (Outlier Group 2)](<https://www.sota2.com/research/sota/outlier-explanation-on-readmission-outlier-group-2.md>): Outlier Explanation; READMISSION (Outlier Group 2); FUO: 10.

## Original sources and implementation

[Original paper](<https://arxiv.org/abs/1911.02617>)

[PDF](<https://arxiv.org/pdf/1911.02617.pdf>)