Case-based reasoning
Artificial Intelligence[1]
In case-based reasoning, the cognitive agent addresses new problems by tweaking solutions to existing problems.
Case-based reasoning (CBR), broadly construed, is the process of solving new problems based on the solutions of similar past problems. An auto mechanic who fixes an engine by recalling another car that exhibited similar symptoms is using case-based reasoning.[2]
The problem we are trying to solve here is what happens when you are confronted with a new situation and you don't have a good past-case to solve the new problem.
The basic process
| Process | Description |
|---|---|
| Retrieval | Retrieve a case from memory similar to the current problem |
| Adaptation | Adapt the solution to that case to fit the current problem |
| Evaluation | Evaluating how well the adapted solution addresses the current problem |
| Storage | Storing the problem and solution as a case |
Assumptions
Assumptions of case-based reasoning are:
- there are patterns to problems in the world (the same type of problem repeats again and again)
- similar problems have similar solutions (not always but mostly)
Adaptation
When we solve a new problem, we are remembering a problem and slightly modifying (adapting it) to solve our new problem.