SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RELATING INFORMATION ACROSS SEEMINGLY UNRELATED TOPICS
A system and method for determining likelihoods of relationships between unrelated variables associated with characteristics of a user includes collecting scores for a plurality of variables and transforming the scores to discrete values. A first property having a discrete value and a second property having a discrete value are selected. How many times more likely the first property is exhibited for people who have the second property as compared to a general probability in an entire population for the first property to be exhibited is represented by computing a ratio of probabilities. The ratio of probabilities is reported.
1 . A method for determining likelihoods of relationships between unrelated variables associated with characteristics of a user, comprising:
collecting scores for a plurality of variables;
transforming the scores to discrete values;
selecting a first property having a discrete value and a second property having a discrete value;
representing how many times more likely the first property is exhibited for people who have the second property as compared to a general probability in an entire population for the first property to be exhibited, by computing a ratio of probabilities; and
reporting the ratio of probabilities.
2 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein collecting scores for a plurality of variables includes providing stimuli to a user and recording responses.
3 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein collecting scores for a plurality of variables includes providing one of a survey and a questionnaire and recording responses of a user.
4 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein transforming the scores to discrete values includes assigning a discrete value to each of a plurality of ranges of scores.
5 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein transforming the scores to discrete values includes employing one of a normative approach and an ipsative approach.
6 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein transforming the scores to discrete values includes substituting each score by its deviation from a center of a scale employed to provide the score; and substituting the deviation by a rank of the deviation after sorting all scores to provide the discrete values.
7 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first property and second property include one of a personality trait, a user preference, a demographic score and a rating score.
8 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein computing a ratio of probabilities includes computing a ratio R=P(A|B)/P(A) where P(A) is a general probability of the first property in the entire population, and P(A|B) (probability of A given B) is the probability of the first property in a sub-population where the second property also occurs.
9 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein computing a ratio of probabilities includes computing a ratio R′=P(A|B)/P(Anot|B) where P(A|B) (probability of A given B) is the probability of the first property in a sub-population where the second property also occurs and Anot is a complementary event of the first property indicating users who do not exhibit the first property.
10 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein reporting includes displaying the ratio of probabilities for a user.
11 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein reporting includes alerting a third party of the probability ratio.
12 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the alerting is performed when the ratio of probabilities exceeds a threshold.
13 . A computer readable medium comprising a computer readable program for determining likelihoods of relationships between unrelated variables associated with characteristics of a user, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform to steps of:
collecting scores for a plurality of variables;
transforming the scores to discrete values;
selecting a first property having a discrete value and a second property having a discrete value;
representing how many times more likely the first property is exhibited for people who have the second property as compared to a general probability in an entire population for the first property to be exhibited, by computing a ratio of probabilities; and
reporting the ratio of probabilities,
14 . The computer readable medium as recited in claim 13 , wherein collecting scores for a plurality of variables includes providing stimuli to a user and recording responses.
15 . The computer readable medium as recited in claim 13 , wherein collecting scores for a plurality of variables includes providing one of a survey and a questionnaire and recording responses of a user.
16 . The computer readable medium as recited in claim 13 , wherein transforming the scores to discrete values includes assigning a discrete value to each of a plurality of ranges of scores.
17 . The computer readable medium as recited in claim 13 , wherein transforming the scores to discrete values includes employing one of a normative approach and an ipsative approach.
18 . The computer readable medium as recited in claim 13 , wherein transforming the scores to discrete values includes substituting each score by its deviation from a center of a scale employed to provide the score; and substituting the deviation by a rank of the deviation after sorting all scores to provide the discrete values.
19 . The computer readable medium as recited in claim 13 , wherein the first property and the second property include one of a personality trait, a user preference and a rating score.
20 . The computer readable medium as recited in claim 13 , wherein computing a ratio of probabilities includes computing a ratio R=P(A|B)/P(A) where P(A) is a general probability of the first property in the entire population, and P(A|B) (probability of A given B) is the probability of the first property in a sub-population where the second property also occurs.
21 . The computer readable medium as recited in claim 13 , wherein computing a ratio of probabilities includes computing a ratio R′=P(A|B)/P(Anot|B) where P(A|B) (probability of A given B) is the probability of the first property in a sub-population where the second property also occurs and Anot is a complementary event of the first property indicating users who do not exhibit the first property.
22 . The computer readable medium as recited in claim 13 , wherein reporting includes displaying the ratio of probabilities for a user.
23 . The computer readable medium as recited in claim 13 , wherein reporting includes alerting a third party of the probability ratio.
24 . The computer readable medium as recited in claim 13 , wherein the alerting is performed when the ratio of probabilities exceeds a threshold.