5. The process according to claim 1 , further comprising: selecting fields within said plurality of fields to compare for determining whether said records match.
1. A process operable on one or more computers for estimating a posterior probability of a match between a plurality of records in a database, each record having a plurality of fields, comprising: calculating objective values relating to said fields; approximating subjective values relating to said fields; estimating an average number of duplicate records; estimating a total number of distinct duplicate records using said subjective values; determining a probability of a match between said records using said estimated average number of duplicate records and said estimated total number of distinct duplicate records; determining a probability of no match between said records; determining a conditional probability of a match between at least one of said fields of said records, given a match between said records, using said subjective values; determining a conditional probability of a match between at least one of said fields of said records, given no match between said records, using both said objective values and said subjective values; and using a Bayesian probability function to determine said posterior probability based on said probabilities and said conditional probabilities.