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arXiv · 2109.08134

Comparison and Unification of Three Regularization Methods in Batch Reinforcement Learning

Sarah Rathnam·Susan A. Murphy·Finale Doshi-Velez
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Abstract

In batch reinforcement learning, there can be poorly explored state-action pairs resulting in poorly learned, inaccurate models and poorly performing associated policies. Various regularization methods can mitigate the problem of learning overly-complex models in Markov decision processes (MDPs), however they operate in technically and intuitively distinct ways and lack a common form in which to compare them. This paper unifies three regularization methods in a common framework -- a weighted average transition matrix. Considering regularization methods in this common form illuminates how the MDP structure and the state-action pair distribution of the batch data set influence the relative performance of regularization methods. We confirm intuitions generated from the common framework by empirical evaluation across a range of MDPs and data collection policies.

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Sarah Rathnam, Susan A. Murphy, Finale Doshi-Velez. 2021-09-16. Comparison and Unification of Three Regularization Methods in Batch Reinforcement Learning. https://arxiv.org/abs/2109.08134

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