Article ID: | iaor20062243 |
Country: | United Kingdom |
Volume: | 11 |
Issue: | 6 |
Start Page Number: | 327 |
End Page Number: | 343 |
Publication Date: | Nov 2002 |
Journal: | Journal of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis |
Authors: | Beynon Malcolm J. |
Keywords: | analytic hierarchy process |
DS/AHP is a method of multi-criteria decision making based on the Dempster–Shafer theory of evidence and the analytic hierarchy process. Central to the utilization of DS/AHP is the composing of preference judgements on identified groups of decision alternatives (DA) across a number of criteria against all the DA present in the problem in question. This paper exposits a series of results whose objectives are to aid in the development of an effective set of preference scale values for use within DS/AHP. These results relate directly to the concomitant level of ignorance (uncertainty) with the judgements made on a single criterion. Two particular directions of investigation are undertaken, firstly in determining the necessary number of scale values available and secondly finding the necessary differences between scale values, dependent on whether an arithmetic or geometric progression is the basis for the scale values. Through an example, the implications and utilization of these results within DS/AHP are illustrated.