title: Understanding what machine learning produces - Part II: Knowledge visualization techniques

authors: Cunningham, Sally Jo

subjects: computer science

abstract: Researchers in machine learning use decision trees, production rules, and decision graphs for visualizing classification data. Part I of this paper surveyed these representations, paying particular attention to their comprehensibility for non-specialist users. Part II turns attention to knowledge visualization—the graphic form in which a structure is portrayed and its strong influence on comprehensibility. We analyze the questions that, in our experience, end users of machine learning tend to ask of the structures inferred from their empirical data. By mapping these questions onto visualization tasks, we have created new graphical representations that show the flow of examples through a decision structure. These knowledge visualization techniques are particularly appropriate in helping to answer the questions that users typically ask, and we describe their use in discovering new properties of a data set. In the case of decision trees, an automated software tool has been developed to construct the visualizations.

text: Understanding what machine learning produces - Part II: Knowledge visualization techniques Researchers in machine learning use decision trees, production rules, and decision graphs for visualizing classification data. Part I of this paper surveyed these representations, paying particular attention to their comprehensibility for non-specialist users. Part II turns attention to knowledge visualization—the graphic form in which a structure is portrayed and its strong influence on comprehensibility. We analyze the questions that, in our experience, end users of machine learning tend to ask of the structures inferred from their empirical data. By mapping these questions onto visualization tasks, we have created new graphical representations that show the flow of examples through a decision structure. These knowledge visualization techniques are particularly appropriate in helping to answer the questions that users typically ask, and we describe their use in discovering new properties of a data set. In the case of decision trees, an automated software tool has been developed to construct the visualizations.

year: 1996-10

title: Modeling population access to New Zealand public hospitals

authors: Brabyn, Lars

subjects: hospital

abstract: This paper demonstrates a method for estimating the geographical accessibility of public hospitals. Cost path analysis was used to determine the minimum travel time and distance to the closest hospital via a road network. This analysis was applied to 38,000 census enumeration district centroids in New Zealand allowing geographical access to be linked to local populations. Average time and distance statistics have been calculated for local populations by modeling the total travel of a population if everybody visited a hospital once. These types of statistics can be generated for different population groups and enable comparisons to be made between regions. This study has shown that the northern and southern parts of New Zealand have high average travel times to hospital services.

text: Modeling population access to New Zealand public hospitals This paper demonstrates a method for estimating the geographical accessibility of public hospitals. Cost path analysis was used to determine the minimum travel time and distance to the closest hospital via a road network. This analysis was applied to 38,000 census enumeration district centroids in New Zealand allowing geographical access to be linked to local populations. Average time and distance statistics have been calculated for local populations by modeling the total travel of a population if everybody visited a hospital once. These types of statistics can be generated for different population groups and enable comparisons to be made between regions. This study has shown that the northern and southern parts of New Zealand have high average travel times to hospital services.

year: 2002-11

title: Maori women and dual ethnicity: Non-congruence, “passing” and “real Maori”

authors: Gibson, Kelly

subjects: Maori

abstract: In this study, I wanted to explore the often uncomfortable experience of having dual ethnicity. I did
this through open-ended interviews with nine women, who, like me, were aged between 20 and 30
and who identified as being of both Maori and Pakeha (or other) descent.
While the women all identified as having dual ethnicity, as the interviews progressed it became
clear that many of them had little pride in being of Pakeha descent and identified more strongly
with their Maori heritage. In most instances the way they were identified by other people was
incongruent with how the participants identified themselves. By virtue of having fair skin, many
were able to “pass” as Pakeha. This provided them with certain advantages, notably being exempt
from racist treatment. On the other hand, their appearance often resulted in them being labelled as
not being a “real Maori.” Paradoxically, when they were identified as Maori, others, both Maori
and non-Maori, sometimes expected them to be an expert in all things Maori. For most participants
being a “real” Maori did not rely on looking Maori or on being able to speak Te Reo fluently.
Instead, having whakapapa was considered the most essential element on which to base their Maori
identity.

text: Maori women and dual ethnicity: Non-congruence, “passing” and “real Maori” In this study, I wanted to explore the often uncomfortable experience of having dual ethnicity. I did
this through open-ended interviews with nine women, who, like me, were aged between 20 and 30
and who identified as being of both Maori and Pakeha (or other) descent.
While the women all identified as having dual ethnicity, as the interviews progressed it became
clear that many of them had little pride in being of Pakeha descent and identified more strongly
with their Maori heritage. In most instances the way they were identified by other people was
incongruent with how the participants identified themselves. By virtue of having fair skin, many
were able to “pass” as Pakeha. This provided them with certain advantages, notably being exempt
from racist treatment. On the other hand, their appearance often resulted in them being labelled as
not being a “real Maori.” Paradoxically, when they were identified as Maori, others, both Maori
and non-Maori, sometimes expected them to be an expert in all things Maori. For most participants
being a “real” Maori did not rely on looking Maori or on being able to speak Te Reo fluently.
Instead, having whakapapa was considered the most essential element on which to base their Maori
identity.

year: 1999