SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS OF EDUCATION OUTCOMES USING COHORT LIFE CYCLES, CLUSTER ANALYTICS-BASED COHORT ANALYSIS, AND PROBABLISTIC DATA SCHEMAS

• US 20090106179A1
• Filed: 10/18/2007
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kraemer, James R., Friedlander, Robert R., Goodwyn, Jay A., Young, Anthony W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,930,262 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 706/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/04 Inference or reasoning models

Abstract

A computer implemented method, computer program product, and data processing system for performing analysis on a plurality of data stored in a database. In an illustrative method, a first cohort is generated from the plurality of data. An optimal control cohort is generated from the plurality of data. Generating is performed based on the first cohort and at least one constraint, and a mathematical process is used to derive the optimal control cohort. A first inference is generated based on a comparison of the first cohort to the optimal control cohort, wherein the first inference is absent from the database. In an illustrative example, the first inference is stored.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for performing analysis on a plurality of data stored in a database, the computer implemented method comprising:

generating a first cohort from the plurality of data;

generating an optimal control cohort from the plurality of data, wherein generating is performed based on the first cohort and at least one constraint, and wherein a mathematical process is used to derive the optimal control cohort;

generating a first inference based on a comparison of the first cohort to the optimal control cohort, wherein the first inference is absent from the database; and

storing the first inference.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a query at the database regarding a fact;

establishing the fact as a frame of reference for the query based on the first cohort and based on the optimal control cohort;

applying a first set of rules to the query, wherein the first set of rules is determined for the query according to a second set of rules, wherein the first set of rules determines how the plurality of data are to be compared to the fact, and wherein the first set of rules determines a search space for the query;

executing the query to generate a second inference, wherein the second inference is determined from comparing the plurality of data according to the first set of rules; and

storing the second inference.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 2 wherein the second inference either validates the first inference or is based on the first inference.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 2 wherein the second inference further comprises one of a probability of the second inference being correct or a probability that the first inference is correct.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the first inference further comprises a probability of the first inference being correct.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the database comprises a plurality of divergent data, wherein the plurality of divergent data includes a plurality of cohort data, wherein each datum of the database is conformed to the dimensions of the database, wherein each datum of the plurality of data has associated metadata and an associated key, wherein the associated metadata comprises data regarding cohorts associated with the corresponding datum, data regarding hierarchies associated with the corresponding datum, data regarding a corresponding source of the datum, and data regarding probabilities associated with integrity, reliability, and importance of each associated datum.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the first inference relates to a study on educational outcomes.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 2 wherein the second inference relates to a study on educational outcomes.

9. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer usable program code for performing analysis on a plurality of data stored in a database, the computer program product including;

computer usable program code for generating a first cohort from the plurality of data;

computer usable program code for generating an optimal control cohort from the plurality of data, wherein generating is performed based on the first cohort and at least one constraint, and wherein a mathematical process is used to derive the optimal control cohort;

computer usable program code for generating a first inference based on a comparison of the first cohort to the optimal control cohort, wherein the first inference is absent from the database; and

computer usable program code for storing the first inference.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 further comprising:

computer usable program code for receiving a query at the database regarding a fact;

computer usable program code for establishing the fact as a frame of reference for the query based on the first cohort and based on the optimal control cohort;

computer usable program code for applying a first set of rules to the query, wherein the first set of rules is determined for the query according to a second set of rules, wherein the first set of rules determines how the plurality of data are to be compared to the fact, and wherein the first set of rules determines a search space for the query;

computer usable program code for executing the query to generate a second inference, wherein the second inference is determined from comparing the plurality of data according to the first set of rules; and

computer usable program code for storing the second inference.

11. The computer program product of claim 10 wherein the second inference either validates the first inference or is based on the first inference.

12. The computer program product of claim 10 wherein the second inference further comprises one of a probability of the second inference being correct or a probability that the first inference is correct.

13. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the first inference further comprises a probability of the first inference being correct.

14. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the first inference and the second inference relate to a study on educational outcomes.

15. A data processing system comprising:

a bus;

at least one processor coupled to the bus;

a computer usable medium coupled to the bus, wherein the computer usable medium contains a set of instructions for performing analysis on a plurality of data stored in a database, wherein the at least one processor is adapted to carry out the set of instructions to;

generate a first cohort from the plurality of data;

generate an optimal control cohort from the plurality of data, wherein generating is performed based on the first cohort and at least one constraint, and wherein a mathematical process is used to derive the optimal control cohort; and

generate a first inference based on a comparison of the first cohort to the optimal control cohort, wherein the first inference is absent from the database.

16. The data processing system of claim 15 wherein the processor is further adapted to carry out the set of instructions to:

receive a query at the database regarding a fact;

establish the fact as a frame of reference for the query based on the first cohort and based on the optimal control cohort;

apply a first set of rules to the query, wherein the first set of rules is determined for the query according to a second set of rules, wherein the first set of rules determines how the plurality of data are to be compared to the fact, and wherein the first set of rules determines a search space for the query; and

execute the query to generate a second inference, wherein the second inference is determined from comparing the plurality of data according to the first set of rules.

17. The data processing system of claim 16 wherein the second inference either validates the first inference or is based on the first inference.

18. The data processing system of claim 16 wherein the second inference further comprises one of a probability of the second inference being correct or a probability that the first inference is correct.

19. The data processing system of claim 15 wherein the first inference further comprises a probability of the first inference being correct.

20. The data processing system of claim 15 wherein the first inference and the second inference relate to a study on educational outcomes.