Statistical expert systems

Abstract: Two types of expert system which involve statistical expertise are statistical consulting programs and programs which find patterns in databases. Consulting programs can now be built quickly using programming tools. Most expert systems include mechanisms for reasoning under uncertainty. Methods under investigation include fuzzy logic, Dempster-Shafer theory, Bayesian analysis and various ad hoc methods. Learning systems use statistics to infer inductive rules, and statistical reasoning can also be used to evaluate the performance of expert systems. The use of a prototype statistical expert system, XSAMPLE, is demonstrated, as a system to handle a consulting session with a statistically moderately advanced user.