A multi-attribute value model for the study of U.K. energy policy

A multi-attribute value model has been developed to study U.K. energy-policy options. The model consists of four main stages: attribute selection, in which users identify up to 15 key attributes of an energy policy; attribute rating, in which a quantitative assessment is made of the relative importance of each of the attributes selected; option evaluation, in which users are asked to score five energy-policy options for the U.K. (drawn from a range of published sources) on each of the attributes; and experimentation, in which users are encouraged to explore and modify a tabular and graphical representation of the results. The model has been used in a series of workshops at which representatives from different organizations have been invited to use the model to explore each other’s viewpoints. User reactions to the model are discussed, and the potential of such models for addressing controversial social issues is considered.