Described is an improved approach to implement selection of training data for machine learning, by presenting a designated set of specific data indicators where these data indicators correspond to metrics that end users are familiar with and are easily understood by ordinary users and DBAs within their knowledge domain. Selection of these indicators would correlate automatically to selection of a corresponding set of other metrics/signals that are less understandable to an ordinary user. Additional analysis of the selected data can then be performed to identify and correct any statistical problems with the selected training data.