Simple neural network with scikit-learn in ML Python - ML Experiment: Train & Evaluate

Experiment - Simple neural network with scikit-learn

Problem:We want to classify iris flowers into species using a simple neural network built with scikit-learn.

Current Metrics:Training accuracy: 98%, Validation accuracy: 75%

Issue:The model is overfitting: training accuracy is very high but validation accuracy is much lower.

Your Task

Reduce overfitting so that validation accuracy improves to at least 90% while keeping training accuracy below 95%.

Use scikit-learn's MLPClassifier only.

Do not change the dataset or use external data.

Keep the model architecture simple (one or two hidden layers).

Hint 1

Hint 2

Hint 3

Solution

ML Python

from sklearn.datasets import load_iris
from sklearn.model_selection import train_test_split
from sklearn.neural_network import MLPClassifier
from sklearn.preprocessing import StandardScaler
from sklearn.metrics import accuracy_score

# Load data
iris = load_iris()
X, y = iris.data, iris.target

# Split data
X_train, X_val, y_train, y_val = train_test_split(X, y, test_size=0.3, random_state=42, stratify=y)

# Scale features
scaler = StandardScaler()
X_train_scaled = scaler.fit_transform(X_train)
X_val_scaled = scaler.transform(X_val)

# Define model with regularization and early stopping
model = MLPClassifier(hidden_layer_sizes=(10,), alpha=0.01, max_iter=500, early_stopping=True, random_state=42)

# Train model
model.fit(X_train_scaled, y_train)

# Predict
train_preds = model.predict(X_train_scaled)
val_preds = model.predict(X_val_scaled)

# Calculate accuracy
train_acc = accuracy_score(y_train, train_preds) * 100
val_acc = accuracy_score(y_val, val_preds) * 100

print(f"Training accuracy: {train_acc:.2f}%")
print(f"Validation accuracy: {val_acc:.2f}%")

Added alpha=0.01 to apply L2 regularization to reduce overfitting.

Enabled early_stopping=True to stop training when validation score stops improving.

Reduced hidden layer size to 10 neurons to simplify the model.

Increased max_iter to 500 to allow enough training with early stopping.

Results Interpretation

Before: Training accuracy: 98%, Validation accuracy: 75% (overfitting)

After: Training accuracy: 93.33%, Validation accuracy: 93.33% (better balance)

Adding regularization and early stopping helps reduce overfitting, improving validation accuracy while keeping training accuracy reasonable.

Bonus Experiment

Try using two hidden layers with smaller sizes and compare the results.

💡 Hint

Set hidden_layer_sizes=(10, 5) and keep alpha and early_stopping parameters.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of using MLPClassifier in scikit-learn?

easy

A. To perform data scaling and normalization

B. To create and train a simple neural network for classification tasks

C. To visualize data distributions

D. To split data into training and testing sets

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of MLPClassifier

   MLPClassifier is a tool in scikit-learn designed to build and train neural networks for classification problems.

2. Step 2: Compare options with MLPClassifier's purpose

   The other options describe tasks like scaling, visualization, and data splitting, which are not the main function of MLPClassifier.

3. Final Answer:

   To create and train a simple neural network for classification tasks -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   MLPClassifier = neural network classifier [OK]

Hint: MLPClassifier builds neural nets for classification [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing MLPClassifier with data preprocessing tools
• Thinking it is for regression only
• Assuming it splits data automatically

2. Which of the following is the correct way to import the MLPClassifier from scikit-learn?

easy

A. import neural_network.MLPClassifier from sklearn

B. import MLPClassifier from sklearn.network

C. from sklearn.ml import MLPClassifier

D. from sklearn.neural_network import MLPClassifier

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the correct module path for MLPClassifier

   MLPClassifier is located in the sklearn.neural_network module.

2. Step 2: Check each import statement for syntax and correctness

   The other options have incorrect module names or import syntax.

3. Final Answer:

   from sklearn.neural_network import MLPClassifier -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Correct import = from sklearn.neural_network import MLPClassifier [OK]

Hint: MLPClassifier is in sklearn.neural_network module [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using wrong module names like sklearn.ml
• Incorrect import syntax
• Confusing neural_network with network

3. What will be the output of the following code snippet?

from sklearn.neural_network import MLPClassifier
X = [[0., 0.], [1., 1.]]
y = [0, 1]
clf = MLPClassifier(hidden_layer_sizes=(2,), max_iter=1000, random_state=1)
clf.fit(X, y)
pred = clf.predict([[2., 2.]])
print(pred)

medium

A. [0]

B. Error due to wrong input shape

C. [1]

D. [2]

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the training data and labels

   The model is trained on two points: [0., 0.] labeled 0 and [1., 1.] labeled 1.

2. Step 2: Predict the label for input [2., 2.]

   Since [2., 2.] is closer to [1., 1.] which has label 1, the model predicts 1.

3. Final Answer:

   [1] -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Input near class 1 predicts 1 [OK]

Hint: Prediction matches closest trained label [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming output is 0 by default
• Confusing input shape errors
• Ignoring random_state effect

4. Identify the error in the following code snippet:

from sklearn.neural_network import MLPClassifier
X = [[0, 0], [1, 1]]
y = [0, 1]
clf = MLPClassifier(hidden_layer_sizes=2, max_iter=500)
clf.fit(X, y)

medium

A. hidden_layer_sizes should be a tuple, not an integer

B. max_iter value is too low

C. X and y have mismatched lengths

D. MLPClassifier requires data scaling before fitting

Solution

1. Step 1: Check the hidden_layer_sizes parameter

   hidden_layer_sizes expects a tuple indicating the number of neurons per hidden layer, e.g., (2,), not an integer.

2. Step 2: Verify other parameters and data

   max_iter=500 is valid, X and y lengths match, and scaling is recommended but not mandatory.

3. Final Answer:

   hidden_layer_sizes should be a tuple, not an integer -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   hidden_layer_sizes = tuple [OK]

Hint: hidden_layer_sizes must be tuple like (2,) [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Passing integer instead of tuple for hidden_layer_sizes
• Assuming max_iter causes error
• Thinking scaling is mandatory for fit

5. You want to improve your MLPClassifier model's accuracy on a complex dataset. Which of these changes is most likely to help?

hard

A. Increase the number of neurons in hidden layers and train longer

B. Reduce the number of hidden layers to zero

C. Remove the activation function to speed up training

D. Use fewer training samples to avoid overfitting

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand model complexity and training

   Increasing neurons and training longer allows the model to learn more complex patterns.

2. Step 2: Evaluate other options

   Reducing hidden layers to zero removes learning capacity, removing activation breaks non-linearity, and fewer samples usually reduce accuracy.

3. Final Answer:

   Increase the number of neurons in hidden layers and train longer -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   More neurons + training = better learning [OK]

Hint: More neurons and training improve complex learning [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking fewer layers always improve accuracy
• Removing activation functions to simplify
• Using less data to prevent overfitting blindly