Data Mining

Data mining typically refers to the statistical analysis of large volumes of data to identify potentially useful patterns and relationships in these data. In particular, data mining practitioners seek undiscovered, unexpected, or previously unsubstantiated patterns and relationships within the databases they are analyzing. Assisted by computers, these practitioners look for indicators they can use to generate accurate forecasts of future conditions and adaptive responses to current or future conditions. Although most data mining projects follow a similar process, this process is applied to a wide range of decision-making contexts, including health care management, strategic communication, and epidemiological research, to name only a few.

Databases used in data mining often involve information about individual patients, consumers, citizens, or students, depending on the type of database. For this ...