Data mining is largely concerned with building models. A model is simply an algorithm or set of rules that connects a collection of inputs (often in the form of fields in a corporate database) to a particular target or outcome. Regression, neural networks, decision trees, and most of the other data mining techniques discussed in this book are techniques for creating models. Under the right circumstances, a model can result in insight by providing an explanation of how outcomes of particular interest, such as placing an order or failing to pay a bill, are related to and predicted by the available facts. Models are also used to produce scores.
The first three are all examples of directed data mining, where the goal is to find the value of a particular target variable. Affinity grouping and clustering are undirected tasks where the goal is to uncover structure in data without respect to a particular target variable. Profiling is a descriptive task that may be either directed or undirected. Classification, one of the most common data mining tasks, seems to be a human imperative. In order to understand and communicate about the world, we are constantly classifying, categorizing, and grading. We divide living things into phyla, species, and general; matter into elements; dogs into breeds; people into races; steaks and maple syrup into USDA grades.