GEAR: Generic, Efficient, Accurate kNN-based Regression

Abstract

Regression algorithms are used for prediction (including forecasting of time-series data), inference, hypothesis testing, and modeling of causal relationships. Statistical approaches although popular, are are not generic in that they require the user to make an intelligent guess about the form of the regression equation. In this paper we present a new regression algorithm GEAR – Generic, Efficient, Accurate kNN-based Regression. In addition to this, GEAR is simple and outlier-resilient. These desirable features make GEAR a very attractive alternative to existing approaches. Our experimental study compares GEAR with fourteen other algorithms on five standard real datasets, and shows that GEAR is more accurate than all its competitors.