BOSS search appears to hang when a single required edge is added (small dataset)

[BjarkeHautop]

I have a dataset with 5 variables and 100 rows. Running BOSS with defaults (score sem-bic), it returns a result almost instantly. However, if I add a single required edge, the search seems to run indefinitely. I let it run for 20 minutes with no result (tested on both 1 core and 4 cores). This occurs in both Tetrad current and Tetrad 7.6.10.

To reproduce: open this dataset in Tetrad (with defaults):

data_nonlinear_small.csv

and add a single required edge (e.g., between z and v) and then execute the search.

[jdramsey]

Oh you're right. I'll need to think about it and maybe consult the author of the BOSS code. In general BOSS is not entirely happy with required knowledge, as it places constraints on permutations that may not be possible. But it shouldn't just hang.

By the way, SEM BIC is particularly unsuited to your data. I actually coded up a much better option recently, call FF-ML. It's a score for general distributions, optimized using some previous work by other people. You're welcome to try it. You can download a version of Tetrad with it in here:

https://github.com/cmu-phil/tetrad/wiki/Forthcoming-fixes

[BjarkeHautop]

Oh you're right. I'll need to think about it and maybe consult the author of the BOSS code. In general BOSS is not entirely happy with required knowledge, as it places constraints on permutations that may not be possible. But it shouldn't just hang.

Thanks for taking a look.

By the way, SEM BIC is particularly unsuited to your data. I actually coded up a much better option recently, call FF-ML. It's a score for general distributions, optimized using some previous work by other people. You're welcome to try it. You can download a version of Tetrad with it in here:

I know - we’re currently working on an R package which, among many other things, interfaces with Tetrad. I’m just verifying that everything works as expected. Thanks!

[jdramsey]

Oh I see! Well, let me look closer at BOSS then and see if can make it at least not hang there.

[jdramsey]

I have a potential fix for this but I want to think about it for a while longer and get feedback from the author.

[jdramsey]

I found a problem with my solution to this above and switched to another solution. if it makes sense to me after a day I'll upload a new beta version.