Machine Learning in Java - Second Edition

Generating data

An alternative approach is to generate the data by you, for example, with a survey. In survey design, we have to pay attention to data sampling; that is, who the respondents are that are answering the survey. We only get data from the respondents who are accessible and willing to respond. Also, respondents can provide answers that are in line with their self-image and researcher's expectations.

Alternatively, the data can be collected with simulations, where a domain expert specifies the behavior model of users at a micro level. For instance, crowd simulation requires specifying how different types of users will behave in a crowd. Some of the examples could be following the crowd, looking for an escape, and so on. The simulation ...