topic Do I need to use the "Decisions Node" if I applied decisions with the input data node? in SAS Data Science

Do I need to use the "Decisions Node" if I applied decisions with the input data node?

jnvickery — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 00:45:19 GMT

Hello,

I'm using Enterprise Miner 12.3.

I am trying to understand when and if I need to use a "Decisions node" in conjunction with oversampling my input data. I have read this very helpful tip (Tip: How to model a rare target using an oversample approach in SAS® Enterprise Miner™) but I am still not exactly sure.

My question is this: Do I need to use the "Decisions Node" if I applied decisions with the input data node?

Here is the process that I have followed:

Input data node
1. Within the input data node, I have prior probabilities. I also have selected "yes" on the "decisions" tab. And I've selected to "default with inverse prior weights"
Sample node to oversample to create balanced sample
Data partition node
Decision tree node
1. In the "Split search" property, I have "Use decisions" = Yes and "Use priors" = Yes.Decision tree node

Is the above process equivalent to this?

Input data node (without using the decisions in the property panel)
Sample node to oversample
Data partition node
Decision node
Decision tree node

Thanks!

John

Re: Do I need to use the "Decisions Node" if I applied decisions with the input data node?

pepecura — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 19:11:01 GMT

Hi John

Decisions Node is very useful when you want your probability scores and your statistical metrics like lift to reflect the values in your real population. Once you run the stratification and oversample your dataset you can then reverse the impact of it on your model comparison charts. In your flow, the usage of the node might be more complicated than required. If the ranking of your customer scores is important rather than the scores themselves (at it mostly happens in marketing models) then you may use the model outputs as is without any transformation. You may apply ranking algorithms (available as a task in SAS Enterprise Guide) to create customer groups with similar scores in order to take targeted actions.

Please find attached a simple flow for the usage Decisions Node as an example.

Hope this helps.

Best

Tuba.

Re: Do I need to use the "Decisions Node" if I applied decisions with the input data node?

jnvickery — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 14:26:06 GMT

Thank you, Tuba! Your response was very helpful. Exactly what I needed to know.

- John

Re: Do I need to use the "Decisions Node" if I applied decisions with the input data node?

pepecura — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 14:40:22 GMT

Glad to hear that 🙂 you're welcome.