Data mining analysis can be a useful process that provides different results depending on the specific algorithm used for data evaluation. Common types of data mining analysis include exploratory data analysis (EDA), descriptive modeling, predictive modeling and discovering patterns and rules. Utilization of each of these data mining tools provides a different perspective on collected information. Professionals using these techniques can acquire additional insight into an issue or problem of concern based on the specific analysis tool used.
Because of the different outcomes that data mining analysis tools provide when employed, it is pertinent to consider a basic review of each. Exploratory data analysis, or EDA, involves the review of a dataset without any clear outcome goals for examination. Variables that define the data are used as a foundation for providing visual representations to the researcher. As the number of variables increases, this analysis tool may become less effective for visualizing data.
Descriptive modeling is a data mining analysis tool used to collectively describe all of the data in a given dataset. Specifically, this approach synthesizes all of the data to provide information regarding trends, segments and clusters that are present in the information searched. Descriptive data mining analysis is commonly used in advertising. One example of this is market segmentation in which marketers take larger customer groups and segment them by homogeneous characteristics.
Other tools also include predictive modeling. Predictive modeling involves the development of a model based on existing data. The model is then used as a basis for the prediction of another variable that is relevant to the data reviewed. The term "predictive" indicates that this data mining tool can enable the user to predict some value based on what is known in the dataset. Predictive analysis may be used by marketers to determine what products customers are seeking. Based on current purchasing trends, marketers may be able to make predictions about which new products may be popular in the future.
Discovering patterns and rules differs from descriptive and predictive data mining tools. While descriptive and predictive tools employ model building as a foundation for analysis, discovering patterns and rules focuses on identification of patterns in the data. Marketers working for grocery stores, for example, often use this data mining analysis tool as a means to determine purchase patterns. By determining what products customers consistently purchase in the same order, targeted promotions for the items can be developed.