Range estimation priority: a method to sift out weak-weighted criteria in the analytic hierarchy process

Priority vectors in the AHP are full of deviations and uncertainties. This occurs due to the decision-makers' uncertainties and errors in comparisons as well as inconsistencies in judgement matrices. The contribution to goals of the criteria with very weak weights may be lost in such deviations and uncertainties, which make those criteria meaningless. Ideally they should be sifted out. A concept and a method to sift out such criteria are proposed in this paper. This method allows decision-makers to identify and sift out weak-weighted criteria; this is especially helpful for decision-makers who want to build a set of criteria for a specific problem from a large set of criteria for general purposes. With reduced criteria numbers, decision-makers are expected to make fewer errors in judgement, and it is easier for judgement matrices to reach consistency.