Machine learning device and machine learning method

A machine learning device, comprising:

• a sparse modeling processing unit that acquires a plurality of individual importance degrees for each of a plurality of explanatory variable candidates, the plurality of individual importance degrees being acquired by using respective sparse modeling methods different from each other, each of the sparse modeling methods taking input data comprising a specified objective variable in a learning model used for industrial activity and the plurality of explanatory variable candidates that are candidates for an explanatory variable for explaining the specified objective variable;
• and
• a selection unit that calculates a comprehensive importance degree for each of the plurality of explanatory variable candidates based on the plurality of individual importance degrees of each of the plurality of explanatory variable candidates, and selects an explanatory variable of the learning model from among the plurality of explanatory variable candidates based on the comprehensive importance degree.