Problems creating function handle to method from user input text string during object construction

I have a pattern recognition class which the user specifies a learner (and various other options) by entering a text string. During the constructor I validate the user selection is a valid option then try to make a function handle that sets the learner property equal to a function handle that points to the appropriate learner method. A stripped down version is show below:

classdef ssl < handle
    properties
        learner
        valid_selection = {'learner1', 'learner2'};
    end

    methods
        function obj = ssl(user_option)
            if sum(strcmp(user_option,obj.valid_selection)) == 1 
                obj.learner = str2func(user_option);
            else
                error('Invalid Selection')
            end
        end

        function classify(obj)
            % Should execute learner method specified by text string
            obj.learner
        end

        function learner1(obj)
            display('Learner 1 was run')
        end

        function learner2(obj)
            display('Learner 2 was run')
        end
    end
end

To construct object the user should input : a = ssl('learner1')

Method "learner1" should run and display "Learner 1 was run" when they type : a.classify

I have tried a variety of syntax for the line in the constructor shown below, none produce the desired results.

obj.learner = str2func(user_option);

obj.learner = ['@obj.' user_option];

obj.learner = str2func(['obj.' user_option]);

I can accomplish functionality through a series of nested if of switch/case statements but it makes the code extremely messy. Any suggestions on how this can this be done?

[Oleg Komarov]

Note you have a typo under learner2(...).

Answer 1

[Oleg Komarov]

        function classify(obj)
            % Should execute learner method specified by text string
            obj.learner
        end

Should be

        function classify(obj)
            % Should execute learner method specified by text string
            obj.learner(obj)
        end

because you're passing an argument to the function handle contained in learner.

[Karl]

Thanks for the help!

Answer 2

[Matt J]

Note also that there is no reason to convert user_option to a function handle. You could have done this:

          function obj = ssl(user_option)
              if ismember(user_option,obj.valid_selection) 
                  obj.learner = user_option;
              else
                  error('Invalid Selection')
              end
          end

          function classify(obj)
              % Should execute learner method specified by text string
              obj.(obj.learner);
          end