Hybrid feature selection method for predicting software defect

Abstract

Abstract To address the challenges associated with the abundance of features in software datasets, this study proposes a novel hybrid feature selection method that combines quantum particle swarm optimization (QPSO) and principal component analysis (PCA). The objective is to identify a subset of relevant features that can effectively contribute to the accuracy of a predictive model based on an artificial neural network (ANN). The quantum particle swarm optimization algorithm is employed to optimize the selection of features by simulating the behavior of quantum particles in a search space. This approach enhances the exploration and exploitation capabilities, allowing for a more effective identification of relevant features. Furthermore, principal component analysis is integrated into the hybrid method to reduce dimensionality and remove multicollinearity among features, thereby improving the efficiency of the feature selection process. The proposed hybrid method is applied to software defect datasets, where the selected subset of features is fed into an artificial neural network for defect prediction. The performance of the hybrid model is compared with traditional feature selection methods, standalone QPSO, and PCA. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the hybrid approach in achieving superior predictive accuracy while reducing the dimensionality of the dataset. The proposed approach not only enhances prediction accuracy but also provides a more interpretable and efficient subset of features for building robust defect prediction models.

Keywords

• Software defect prediction
• Feature selection
• Optimization