XGBoost will produce different values for feature importances with different hyperparameters on the same dataset. When using XGBoost as a feature selection algorithm for a different model, should I therefore optimize the hyperparameters first? Or there are no hard and fast rules, and in practice I should try say both the default and the optimized set of hyperparameters and see what really works?
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3$\begingroup$ You shouldnt use xgboost as a feature selection algorithm for a different model. Different models use different features in different ways. Theres no reason to believe features improtant for one will work in the same way for another. $\endgroup$– Matthew DruryJul 22, 2017 at 3:25
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1$\begingroup$ @MatthewDrury I'll write this up as an answer, but if you'd prefer to make this comment into an answer, I'll delete my quotation. $\endgroup$– Sycorax ♦Jul 3, 2018 at 15:21
1 Answer
From comments, Matthew Drury writes:
You shouldn't use xgboost as a feature selection algorithm for a different model. Different models use different features in different ways. Theres no reason to believe features important for one will work in the same way for another.