What is Case-based learning (CBL)?

Case-based learning (CBL) is a machine learning method in which a system learns from solving
previous cases similar to the current task.

In this method, the system uses a case base that contains a number of previously solved cases that
are similar to the current task. The system uses this information to search for similar cases and apply
the previous solution to the current task.

The CBL process consists of three phases: retrieval, adaptation and evaluation. In the retrieval phase,
the system searches for similar cases in the database. In the adaptation phase, the system modifies
the solution of the previous case to fit the current task. In the evaluation phase, the system evaluates
the proposed solution and compares it with the optimal solution.

Case-based learning is used in a variety of applications, such as medical diagnostic problem solving,
pattern recognition, decision making, task planning, among others.

Case-Based Learning (CBL) is a type of machine learning where the system solves new problems
based on the solutions to previously encountered problems. It is based on the idea that knowledge is
stored in the form of cases (or experiences), and the system applies reasoning to retrieve and adapt
these cases to solve current problems.

Here’s an overview of Case-Based Learning in machine learning:

1. Concept:

 Case-Based Learning is part of the broader category of Instance-Based Learning (IBL). It

involves using past experiences (cases) to address new problems.

 In CBL, each case represents a problem and its corresponding solution, and the system tries
to retrieve similar cases from the case base and adapt them to fit the new situation.

2. Process:

The general process of case-based learning involves the following steps:

 Retrieve: Find a set of cases from the case base that are similar to the new problem.

 Reuse: Use the retrieved cases to propose a solution to the new problem.

 Revise: If needed, revise or adapt the solution to make it more suitable for the new problem.

 Retain: After solving the problem, the new case and its solution are stored in the case base
for future use.

3. Key Components:

 Case Base: A collection of stored cases, each consisting of a problem description and its
corresponding solution.

 Similarity Measure: A method for determining how similar a new problem is to the cases in
the case base. This is typically done using distance metrics such as Euclidean distance,
Manhattan distance, or more complex similarity measures.

 Adaptation: The process of modifying or tailoring the retrieved solution to better fit the
current problem.
4. Advantages:

 Efficient problem solving: It leverages past experiences to solve new problems, often leading
to quick and efficient solutions.

 Human-like reasoning: CBL mimics how humans solve problems by recalling and adapting
past experiences.

 Incremental learning: New knowledge can be easily added to the case base as new problems
are encountered, allowing the system to continuously learn and improve.

5. Disadvantages:

 Case Base Maintenance: The case base can grow large, making it difficult to maintain and
search efficiently.

 Quality of Cases: If the stored cases are not of high quality or representative, the solutions
retrieved may not be effective.

 Adaptation Complexity: Adapting retrieved solutions to new problems can sometimes be

complex, especially if there are significant differences between the new problem and stored
cases.

6. Applications:

 Medical Diagnosis: CBL is widely used in medical systems where previous diagnoses and
treatments are used to assist in new cases.

 Customer Support Systems: A system might store previous support tickets and solutions to
help resolve new user inquiries.

 Legal Systems: CBL can be applied in law where previous cases are used to suggest outcomes
for new legal cases.

 Robotics: Robots use CBL for tasks like motion planning, where previously learned actions
are adapted to new environments or goals.

7. Example of CBL:

Imagine a machine learning system designed to predict the weather based on historical weather
data:

 Case: Each case could contain features such as temperature, pressure, humidity, and the
corresponding weather condition (sunny, rainy, etc.).

 Retrieve: If the system encounters a new day with similar temperature and humidity, it
retrieves past cases with similar conditions.

 Reuse: The system uses the retrieved case’s weather condition as a prediction for the current
day.

 Revise: If necessary, the prediction could be adjusted based on other factors, like changes in
atmospheric pressure.

 Retain: After predicting the weather, the system stores the new day’s case in its case base for
future reference.
8. Algorithms:

Some popular algorithms for Case-Based Learning include:

 k-Nearest Neighbors (k-NN): A simple and widely used CBL algorithm where new cases are
classified based on the majority vote of the nearest cases.

 CBR (Case-Based Reasoning): A more structured approach that handles case retrieval,
adaptation, and retention explicitly. It is often used in applications like expert systems.

Conclusion:

Case-Based Learning is a powerful and intuitive method in machine learning that uses past cases to
solve new problems. It is especially useful in situations where previous experiences are rich and
directly applicable to new challenges.

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One problem faced by inductive learning is bias, closely coupled with a limited sample size. For
example, if someone is trying to identify different types of plants in a forest by only observing a small
area, they may miss certain species or make incorrect assumptions about the characteristics of those
plants based on limited data.

Another issue arises from this, and that’s the potential for overgeneralization. The danger is that a
learner may assume that all members of a group share certain characteristics based on a limited
number of observations. For instance, if someone observes a few blue jays with red feathers, they
may assume that all blue jays have red feathers, which isn’t true

Thus, analytical learning comes to solve the problem of limited data.

3. How Does Analytical Learning Work?

Analytical learning uses prior knowledge to guide the learning process.

3.1. Simple Example of Analytical Learning

Let’s say we are trying to learn how to identify different types of birds. In the case of a bird classifier,
we might manually select some features based on theory. For example, we might know that birds
have feathers and wings, so we would include features related to these traits in our model.

We could also incorporate rules into the cost function. For example, we might know that certain
types of birds tend to have certain colors or patterns, so we could penalize our model for
misclassifying a bird based on its color or pattern.

Finally, we could restrict our search to specific models based on our prior knowledge. For example, if
we know that birds can be classified into different families based on their beak shape, we might only
consider models that include features related to beak shape.

This is what analytical learning does. It uses prior knowledge to guide the machine learning process
rather than relying solely on the data to determine the best model.

3.2. The Process of Analytical Learning

Analytical learning requires models to fit both prior knowledge and data:
 1. We use prior knowledge to select the model family and features or make a problem-specific
cost function.

2. The search process uses the available data to find a model.

3. When testing a model, we require that it fits both data and theory.

Once a satisfactory solution is found, it can be further refined and improved using additional data or
feedback.

Analytical learning is particularly useful in situations where the available data is limited or
noisy. It’s also useful when there are complex relationships between features, and a purely inductive
approach might not have enough power to reveal them without the help of prior knowledge.

4. Benefits and Shortcomings of Analytical Learning

4.1. Benefits of Analytical Learning

Analytical learning comes with several benefits:

 Improved accuracy: it can improve the accuracy of predictions by incorporating prior

knowledge and reducing the impact of noise or outliers in the data

 Faster learning: by leveraging prior knowledge, analytical learning can reduce the amount of
data required to construct accurate classifiers or regressors, which speeds up the learning
process

 Better generalization: analytical learning can help models generalize better to new data by
incorporating domain-specific knowledge and avoiding overfitting the training data

 Increased interpretability: we get more interpretable models because they’re based on

human expertise and domain knowledge

4.2. Shortcomings of Analytical Learning

However, it also has some shortcomings:

 Assumption of prior knowledge: analytical learning assumes that prior knowledge is

available, which may not always be the case. This can limit the applicability of analytical
learning to only those domains with sufficiently developed theories.

 Difficulty in handling complex relationships: analytical learning methods may struggle to

handle complex relationships between variables, especially when the data is high-
dimensional or non-linear. This can limit their ability to accurately model certain types of
data.

 Requires expertise: Analytical learning requires a certain level of expertise and knowledge in
a particular field, which may not be accessible to everyone.
5. Analytical vs. Inductive Learning

The two main differences between analytical and inductive learning methods are the use of prior
knowledge and data requirements:

Analytical learning Inductive learning

Incorporates prior knowledge and Relies solely on data to derive

Prior Knowledge
assumptions to guide the learning process patterns and rules.

Data Can work with smaller datasets due to the Requires a large amount of data
Requirements incorporation of prior knowledge. to derive accurate rules.