A framework for knowledge acquisition through techniques of concept learning

An integrative framework is developed for describing concept learning techniques that makes it possible to evaluate their relevance to knowledge engineering. The framework provides a general basis for relating concept learning to knowledge acquisition and is a starting point for the development of formal design rules. First, concept learning is framed in the context of knowledge acquisition. Then the general forms of input and concept representation such as logic, functions and procedures are discussed. Next, methods of biasing the search for a suitable concept are described and illustrated including: background knowledge, conceptual bias, composition bias, and preference orderings. Finally, modes of teacher interaction are reviewed, including the nature of examples given and the method of presenting them. The framework is illustrated by applying it to the better-documented concept learning systems