Information Gain in Decision Trees - Constructing A Decision Tree Using Information Gain

Constructing A Decision Tree Using Information Gain

A decision tree can be constructed top-down using the information gain in the following way:

  1. begin at the root node
  2. determine the attribute with the highest information gain which is not already used as an ancestor node
  3. add a child node for each possible value of that attribute
  4. attach all examples to the child node where the attribute values of the examples are identical to the attribute value attached to the node
  5. if all examples attached to the child node can be classified uniquely add that classification to that node and mark it as leaf node
  6. go back to step two if there are unused attributes left, otherwise add the classification of most of the examples attached to the child node

Read more about this topic:  Information Gain In Decision Trees

Famous quotes containing the words constructing, decision, tree, information and/or gain:

    “The very hope of experimental philosophy, its expectation of constructing the sciences into a true philosophy of nature, is based on induction, or, if you please, the a priori presumption, that physical causation is universal; that the constitution of nature is written in its actual manifestations, and needs only to be deciphered by experimental and inductive research; that it is not a latent invisible writing, to be brought out by the magic of mental anticipation or metaphysical mediation.”
    —Chauncey Wright (1830–1875)

    “A good decision is based on knowledge and not on numbers.”
    —Plato (c. 427–347 B.C.)

    “It is, I fear, but a vain show of fulfilling the heathen precept, “Know thyself,” and too often leads to a self-estimate which will subsist in the absence of that fruit by which alone the quality of the tree is made evident.”
    —George Eliot [Mary Ann (or Marian)

    “I have all my life been on my guard against the information conveyed by the sense of hearing—it being one of my earliest observations, the universal inclination of humankind is to be led by the ears, and I am sometimes apt to imagine that they are given to men as they are to pitchers, purposely that they may be carried about by them.”
    —Mary Wortley, Lady Montagu (1689–1762)

    “Give instruction to the wise, and they will become wiser still; teach the righteous and they will gain in learning.”
    —Bible: Hebrew, Proverbs 9:9.