Top-down induction of first-order logical decision trees

A first-order framework for top-down induction of logical decision trees is introduced. The expressivity of these trees is shown to be larger than that of the flat logic programs which are typically induced by classical ILP systems, and equal to that of first-order decision lists. These results are related to predicate invention and mixed variable quantification. Finally, an implementation of this framework, the TILDE system, is presented and empirically evaluated. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.status: publishe