Abstract: A machine-implementable method and apparatus for automatic extension of results obtained by querying a database of relationally organized data and expressed in tabular row and column format. The method involves modifying the query by adding column variables to the query that show a high association with the initial query designated variables. The modified query is then used to access the table. This repeats until a stop condition is sensed. Tuples of values elicited responsive to the modified query are included in an extended response if they are significantly similar to tuples elicited by the original query. Several association and similarity modes are described by which the number of variables and tuples can be reiteratively extended.