Building the Models

At this point, you should be well prepared to build the models you've spent so long considering. Give yourself time and room to experiment with a number of different models before making final conclusions. Most data miners typically build several models and compare the results before deploying or integrating them.

In order to track your progress with a variety of models, be sure to keep notes on the settings and data used for each model. This will help you to discuss the results with others and retrace your steps if necessary. At the end of the model-building process, you'll have three pieces of information to use in data mining decisions:

• Parameter settings include the notes you take on parameters that produce the best results.
• The actual models produced.
• Descriptions of model results, including performance and data issues that occurred during the execution of the model and exploration of its results.