# Highly Efficient Structural Learning of Sparse Staged Trees

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2206.06970 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2206.06970/

## Key facts

- Cited by 6 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 11 of its 29 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 14 Jun 2022.

## Builds on (most cited first, 11 of 11)

- [Context-Specific Independence in Bayesian Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1302.3562/) (2013)
- [Learning Bayesian Network Structure from Massive Datasets: The "Sparse Candidate" Algorithm](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1301.6696/) (2013)
- [The R Package stagedtrees for Structural Learning of Stratified Staged Trees](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2004.06459/) (2020)
- [A Bayesian Approach to Learning Bayesian Networks with Local Structure](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1302.1528/) (2013)
- [Context-Specific Causal Discovery for Categorical Data Using Staged Trees](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2106.04416/) (2021)
- [Learning Bayesian Networks with Local Structure](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1302.3577/) (2013)
- [The curved exponential family of a staged tree](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2010.15515/) (2020)
- [Staged trees and asymmetry-labeled DAGs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2108.01994/) (2021)
- [Structural Learning of Simple Staged Trees](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2203.04390/) (2022)
- [A new class of generative classifiers based on staged tree models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2012.13798/) (2020)
- [Algebraic geometry of discrete interventional models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2012.03593/) (2020)

## Built on by (most cited first, 6 of 6)

- [Learning and interpreting asymmetry-labeled DAGs: a case study on COVID-19 fear](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2301.00629/) (2023)
- [Learning Staged Trees from Incomplete Data](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2405.18306/) (2024)
- [Scalable Structure Learning for Sparse Context-Specific Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.07762/) (2024)
- [Context-Specific Refinements of Bayesian Network Classifiers](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2405.18298/) (2024)
- [Staged Event Trees for Transparent Treatment Effect Estimation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.26265/) (2025)
- [Estimating Staged Event Tree Models via Hierarchical Clustering on the Simplex](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2603.15568/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Several structural learning algorithms for staged tree models, an asymmetric extension of Bayesian networks, have been defined. However, they do not scale efficiently as the number of variables considered increases. Here we introduce the first scalable structural learning algorithm for staged trees, which searches over a space of models where only a small number of dependencies can be imposed. A simulation study as well as a real-world application illustrate our routines and the practical use of such data-learned staged trees.