Finding the best algorithm

As a data mining developer, you apply different data mining algorithms and models on a dataset. Different mining models will return different patterns and different result sets because each mining algorithm works in a different way. Finding the best mining model is a process that depends on the problem, dataset, and the output of algorithm.

Microsoft provides tools such as Lift Chart and Profit Chart for comparing the result of mining models. As you may recall from the previous chapter, the test set is part of the data that is retained intact to be tested with the recognized pattern of the mining model. Lift Chart and Profit Chart will show how the result of the mining model works compared to actual data in the test set.