DSS Using Visualization of Multi-Algorithms Voting

The problem of analyzing datasets and classifying them into clusters based on known properties is a well known problem with implementations in fields such as finance (e.g., pricing), computer science (e.g., image processing), marketing (e.g., market segmentation), and medicine (e.g., diagnostics), among others (Cadez, Heckerman, Meek, Smyth, & White, 2003; Clifford & Stevenson, 2005; Erlich, Gelbard, & Spiegler, 2002; Jain & Dubes, 1988; Jain, Murty, & Flynn, 1999; Sharan & Shamir, 2002). Currently, researchers and business analysts alike must try out and test out each diverse algorithm and parameter separately in order to set up and establish their preference concerning the individual decision problem they face. Moreover, there is no supportive model or tool available to help them compare different results-clusters yielded by these algorithm and parameter combinations. Commercial products neither show the resulting clusters of multiple methods, nor provide the researcher with effective tools with which to analyze and compare the outcomes of the different tools. To overcome these challenges, a decision support system (DSS) has been developed. The DSS uses a matrix presentation of multiple cluster divisions based on the application of multiple algorithms. The presentation is independent of the actual algorithms used and it is up to the researcher to choose the most appropriate algorithms based on his or her personal expertise.