Simultaneous optimization method of feature transformation and weighting for artificial neural networks using genetic algorithm : Application to Korean stock market

In this paper, we propose a new hybrid model of artificial neural networks (ANNs) and genetic algorithm (GA) to optimal feature transformation and feature weighting. Previous research proposed several variants of hybrid ANNs and GA models including feature weighting, feature subset selection and network structure optimization. Among the vast majority of these studies, however, ANNs did not learn the patterns of data well, because they employed GA for simple use. In this study, we incorporate GA in a simultaneous manner to improve the learning and generalization ability of ANNs. In this study, GA plays role to optimize feature weighting and feature transformation simultaneously. Globally optimized feature weighting overcome the well-known limitations of gradient descent algorithm and globally optimized feature transformation also reduce the dimensionality of the feature space and eliminate irrelevant factors in modeling ANNs. By this procedure, we can improve the performance and enhance the generalisability of ANNs.