Comparing stacking ensemble and deep learning for software project effort estimation

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F70883521%3A28140%2F23%3A63570638" target="_blank" >RIV/70883521:28140/23:63570638 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10151867" target="_blank" >https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10151867</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2023.3286372" target="_blank" >10.1109/ACCESS.2023.3286372</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Comparing stacking ensemble and deep learning for software project effort estimation

Original language description

This study focuses on improving the accuracy of effort estimation by employing ensemble, deep learning, and transfer learning techniques. An ensemble approach is utilized, incorporating XGBoost, Random Forest, and Histogram Gradient Boost as generators to enhance predictive capabilities. The performance of the ensemble method is compared against both the deep learning approach and the PFA-IFPUG technique. Statistical criteria including MAE, SA, MMRE, PRED(0.25), MBRE, MIBRE, and relevant information related to MMRE and PRED(0.25) are employed for evaluation. The results demonstrate that combining regression models with Random Forest as the final regressor and XGBoost and Histogram Gradient Boost as prior generators yields more accurate effort estimation than other combinations. Furthermore, the findings highlight the potential of transfer learning in the deep learning method, which exhibits superior performance over the ensemble approach. This approach leverages pre-trained models and continuously improves performance by training on new datasets, providing valuable insights for cross-company and cross-time effort estimation problems. The ISBSG dataset is used to build the pre-trained model, and the inductive transfer learning approach is verified based on the Desharnais, Albrecht, Kitchenham, and China datasets. The study underscores the significance of transfer learning and the integration of domain-specific knowledge from existing models to enhance the performance of new models, thereby improving accuracy, reducing errors, and enhancing predictive capabilities in effort estimation. Author

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

10201 - Computer sciences, information science, bioinformathics (hardware development to be 2.2, social aspect to be 5.8)

Project

—

Continuities

S - Specificky vyzkum na vysokych skolach<br>I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2023

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

IEEE Access

ISSN

2169-3536

e-ISSN

2169-3536

Volume of the periodical

11

Issue of the periodical within the volume

2023

Country of publishing house

US - UNITED STATES

Number of pages

15

Pages from-to

60590-60604

UT code for WoS article

001018576300001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85162635099