通常作為與資料倉庫和分析相關的技術,資料探勘處於它們的中間。然而,有時還會出現十分可笑的應用,例如發掘出不存在但看起來振奮人心的模式(特別的因果關係),這些根本不相關的、甚至引人誤入歧途的、或是毫無價值的關聯,在統計學文獻裡通常被戲稱為「資料挖泥(英语:Data dredging)」(Data dredging, data fishing, or data snooping)。
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