# MetaStackVis: Visually-Assisted Performance Evaluation of Metamodels

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2212.03539 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2212.03539/

## Key facts

- Cited by 1 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 6 of its 31 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 7 Dec 2022.

## Builds on (most cited first, 6 of 6)

- [UMAP: Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection for Dimension Reduction](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1802.03426/) (2018)
- [Explaining Vulnerabilities to Adversarial Machine Learning through Visual Analytics](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1907.07296/) (2019)
- [Optimizing Ensemble Weights and Hyperparameters of Machine Learning Models for Regression Problems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1908.05287/) (2019)
- [StackGenVis: Alignment of Data, Algorithms, and Models for Stacking Ensemble Learning Using Performance Metrics](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2005.01575/) (2020)
- [VisEvol: Visual Analytics to Support Hyperparameter Search through Evolutionary Optimization](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2012.01205/) (2020)
- [FeatureEnVi: Visual Analytics for Feature Engineering Using Stepwise Selection and Semi-Automatic Extraction Approaches](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2103.14539/) (2021)

## Built on by (most cited first, 1 of 1)

- [Stop Misusing t-SNE and UMAP for Visual Analytics](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2506.08725/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Stacking (or stacked generalization) is an ensemble learning method with one main distinctiveness from the rest: even though several base models are trained on the original data set, their predictions are further used as input data for one or more metamodels arranged in at least one extra layer. Composing a stack of models can produce high-performance outcomes, but it usually involves a trial-and-error process. Therefore, our previously developed visual analytics system, StackGenVis, was mainly designed to assist users in choosing a set of top-performing and diverse models by measuring their predictive performance. However, it only employs a single logistic regression metamodel. In this paper, we investigate the impact of alternative metamodels on the performance of stacking ensembles using a novel visualization tool, called MetaStackVis. Our interactive tool helps users to visually explore different singular and pairs of metamodels according to their predictive probabilities and multiple validation metrics, as well as their ability to predict specific problematic data instances. MetaStackVis was evaluated with a usage scenario based on a medical data set and via expert interviews.