Selection of elements strongly related to a predetermined reference element

A selection method comprising selecting a nearest neighbor set among a plurality of elements, the nearest neighbor set being a set of elements each having a relation to a predetermined reference element, a degree of the relation meeting a predetermined condition, the step of selecting comprising:

• a nearest neighbor set candidate selection step of selecting, among the plurality of elements, a set of elements determined that the set of elements have stronger relations to the reference element, as each of a plurality of nearest neighbor set candidates, which are a plurality of different candidates for the nearest neighbor set;
• and
• a nearest neighbor set selection step of selecting, as the nearest neighbor set, a set of elements having relations, degrees of which meet the predetermined condition, to the reference element, among a union of the plurality of nearest neighbor set candidates.

A program for causing a computer to function as a selection unit for selecting a nearest neighbor set among a plurality of elements, the nearest neighbor set being a set of elements each having a relation to a predetermined reference element, a degree of the relation meeting a predetermined condition, the program causing the computer to function as:

• a nearest neighbor set candidate selection unit for selecting, among the plurality of elements, a set of elements determined that the set of elements have stronger relations to the reference element, as each of a plurality of nearest neighbor set candidates, which are a plurality of different candidates for the nearest neighbor set;
• and
• a nearest neighbor set selection unit for selecting, as the nearest neighbor set, a set of elements having relations, degrees of which meet the predetermined condition, to the reference element, among a union of the plurality of nearest neighbor set candidates.