A novel experimental analysis method has been developed, making use of the continuous wavelet transform and machine learning to rapidly identify α -clustering in nuclei in regions of high nuclear state density. This technique was applied to resonant scattering measurements of the 4 He( 40,44,48 Ca, α ) resonant reactions, allowing the α -cluster structure of 44,48,52 Ti to be investigated. Fragmented α -clustering was identified in 44 Ti and 52 Ti, while the results for 48 Ti were less conclusive, but suggest no such clustering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]