USING DOMAIN KNOWLEDGE TO GUIDE DATABASE KNOWLEDGE DISCOVERY

Modern database technologies process large volumes of data to discover new knowledge. Some large databases make discovery computationally ex pensive. Additional knowledge, known as domain or background knowledge , hidden in the database can often guide and restrict the search for i nteresting knowledge. This paper discusses mechanisms by which domain knowledge can be used effectively in discovering knowledge from databa ses. In particular we look at the use of domain knowledge to reduce th e search as well as to optimize the hypotheses which represent the int eresting knowledge to be discovered. Also, we discuss how to use domai n knowledge to test the validity of the discovered knowledge. Although domain knowledge can be used to improve database searches, it should not block the discovery of unexpected knowledge. We provide some guide lines to use domain knowledge properly.