1. A method for analyzing a database, the database including a plurality of records having attribute-value (a-v) pairs, the method executing on a computer system including a processor, user input device and display screen, the method comprising the following steps: determining, by using the processor, two or more parents of a given a-v pair, wherein a parent of an a-v pair is another a-v pair that exists within every record that the given a-v pair exists; displaying the two or more parents on the display screen along with an indication that the two or more parents are associated with the given a-v pair; accepting signals from the user input device to select one or more of the parents; determining a second set of parents for the selected parent; and displaying the second set of parents on the display screen.