  Identifying inaccurate data has long been regarded as a significant and
difficult problem in AI. In this paper, we present a new method for identifying
inaccurate data on the basis of qualitative correlations among related data.
First, we introduce the definitions of related data and qualitative
correlations among related data. Then we put forward a new concept called
support coefficient function (SCF). SCF can be used to extract, represent, and
calculate qualitative correlations among related data within a dataset. We
propose an approach to determining dynamic shift intervals of inaccurate data,
and an approach to calculating possibility of identifying inaccurate data,
respectively. Both of the approaches are based on SCF. Finally we present an
algorithm for identifying inaccurate data by using qualitative correlations
among related data as confirmatory or disconfirmatory evidence. We have
developed a practical system for interpreting infrared spectra by applying the
method, and have fully tested the system against several hundred real spectra.
The experimental results show that the method is significantly better than the
conventional methods used in many similar systems.
