An interactive method for multiple criteria group decision analysis based on interval type-2 fuzzy sets and its application to medical decision making

The theory of interval type-2 fuzzy sets provides an intuitive and computationally feasible way of addressing uncertain and ambiguous information in decision-making fields. The aim of this paper is to develop an interactive method for handling multiple criteria group decision-making problems, in which information about criterion weights is incompletely (imprecisely or partially) known and the criterion values are expressed as interval type-2 trapezoidal fuzzy numbers. With respect to the relative importance of multiple decision-makers and group consensus of fuzzy opinions, a hybrid averaging approach combining weighted averages and ordered weighted averages was employed to construct the collective decision matrix. An integrated programming model was then established based on the concept of signed distance-based closeness coefficients to determine the importance weights of criteria and the priority ranking of alternatives. Subsequently, an interactive procedure was proposed to modify the model according to the decision-makers’ feedback on the degree of satisfaction toward undesirable solution results for the sake of gradually improving the integrated model. The feasibility and applicability of the proposed methods are illustrated with a medical decision-making problem of patient-centered medicine concerning basilar artery occlusion. A comparative analysis with other approaches was performed to validate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.     

Multicriteria fuzzy decision-making method using entropy weights-based correlation coefficients of interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets

A multicriteria fuzzy decision-making method based on weighted correlation coefficients using entropy weights is proposed under interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy environment for the some situations where the information about criteria weights for alternatives is completely unknown. To determine the entropy weights with respect to a decision matrix provided as interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IVIFSs), we propose two entropy measures for IVIFSs and establish an entropy weight model, which can be used to determine the criteria weights on alternatives, and then propose an evaluation formula of weighted correlation coefficient between an alternative and the ideal alternative. The alternatives can be ranked and the most desirable one(s) can be selected according to the values of the weighted correlation coefficients. Finally, two applied examples demonstrate the applicability and benefit of the proposed method: it is capable for handling the multicriteria fuzzy decision-making problems with completely unknown weights for criteria.     

基于模糊熵的直觉模糊多属性群决策方法

针对专家权重未知、专家判断信息以直觉模糊集给出的多属性群决策问题,提出了一种新的决策方法.通过定义直觉模糊集的模糊熵计算专家判断信息的模糊程度,进而确定每位专家的权重.然后定义直觉模糊集的模糊交叉熵确定备选方案距理想方案和负理想方案的距离,再根据加权算术算子集结专家的判断信息,得到方案的排序.最后,通过一个实例分析验证了方法的有效性.     

Correlation coefficient of interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets and its application to multiple attribute group decision making problems

In this paper, we investigate the group decision making problems in which all the information provided by the decision-makers is presented as interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy decision matrices where each of the elements is characterized by interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy number (IVIFN), and the information about attribute weights is partially known. First, we use the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy hybrid geometric (IIFHG) operator to aggregate all individual interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy decision matrices provided by the decision-makers into the collective interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy decision matrix, and then we use the score function to calculate the score of each attribute value and construct the score matrix of the collective interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy decision matrix. From the score matrix and the given attribute weight information, we establish an optimization model to determine the weights of attributes, and then we use the obtained attribute weights and the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy weighted geometric (IIFWG) operator to fuse the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy information in the collective interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy decision matrix to get the overall interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy values of alternatives, and then rank the alternatives according to the correlation coefficients between IVIFNs and select the most desirable one(s). Finally, a numerical example is used to illustrate the applicability of the proposed approach.     

Multi-person multi-attribute decision making models under intuitionistic fuzzy environment

Intuitionistic fuzzy numbers, each of which is characterized by the degree of membership and the degree of non-membership of an element, are a very useful means to depict the decision information in the process of decision making. In this article, we investigate the group decision making problems in which all the information provided by the decision makers is expressed as intuitionistic fuzzy decision matrices where each of the elements is characterized by intuitionistic fuzzy number, and the information about attribute weights is partially known, which may be constructed by various forms. We first use the intuitionistic fuzzy hybrid geometric (IFHG) operator to aggregate all individual intuitionistic fuzzy decision matrices provided by the decision makers into the collective intuitionistic fuzzy decision matrix, then we utilize the score function to calculate the score of each attribute value and construct the score matrix of the collective intuitionistic fuzzy decision matrix. Based on the score matrix and the given attribute weight information, we establish some optimization models to determine the weights of attributes. Furthermore, we utilize the obtained attribute weights and the intuitionistic fuzzy weighted geometric (IFWG) operator to fuse the intuitionistic fuzzy information in the collective intuitionistic fuzzy decision matrix to get the overall intuitionistic fuzzy values of alternatives by which the ranking of all the given alternatives can be found. Finally, we give an illustrative example.     

Extension of the TOPSIS method for decision making problems under interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy environment

TOPSIS is one of the well-known methods for multiple attribute decision making (MADM). In this paper, we extend the TOPSIS method to solve multiple attribute group decision making (MAGDM) problems in interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy environment in which all the preference information provided by the decision-makers is presented as interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy decision matrices where each of the elements is characterized by interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy number (IVIFNs), and the information about attribute weights is partially known. First, we use the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy hybrid geometric (IIFHG) operator to aggregate all individual interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy decision matrices provided by the decision-makers into the collective interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy decision matrix, and then we use the score function to calculate the score of each attribute value and construct the score matrix of the collective interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy decision matrix. From the score matrix and the given attribute weight information, we establish an optimization model to determine the weights of attributes, and construct the weighted collective interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy decision matrix, and then determine the interval-valued intuitionistic positive-ideal solution and interval-valued intuitionistic negative-ideal solution. Based on different distance definitions, we calculate the relative closeness of each alternative to the interval-valued intuitionistic positive-ideal solution and rank the alternatives according to the relative closeness to the interval-valued intuitionistic positive-ideal solution and select the most desirable one(s). Finally, an example is used to illustrate the applicability of the proposed approach.     

区间直觉模糊集的模糊熵群决策方法

针对专家权重未知、专家判断信息以区间直觉模糊集给出的多属性群决策问题,提出了一种新的模糊熵决策方法。通过定义区间直觉模糊集的模糊熵判断专家信息的模糊程度,进而确定每位专家的权重;然后计算备选方案距理想方案和负理想方案的模糊交叉熵距离,得到每个专家对方案的排序;再分别利用加权算术算子和加权几何算子集结专家的排序结果,得到专家群体对方案的排序。实例分析验证了方法的有效性。     

An improved method on group decision making based on interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy prioritized operators

Interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy prioritized operators are widely used in group decision making under uncertain environment due to its flexibility to model uncertain information. However, there is a shortcoming in the existing aggregation operators (interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy prioritized weighted average (IVIFPWA)) to deal with group decision making in some extreme situations. For example, when an expert gives an absolute negative evaluation, the operators could lead to irrational results, so that they are not effectively enough to handle group decision making. In this paper, several examples are illustrated to show the unreasonable results in some of these situations. Actually, these unreasonable cases are common for operators in dealing with product averaging, not only emerging in IVIFPWA operators. To overcome the shortcoming of these kinds of operators, an improvement of making slight adjustment on initial evaluations is provided. Numerical examples are used to show the efficiency of the improvement.     

Generalized hesitant fuzzy synergetic weighted distance measures and their application to multiple criteria decision-making

The purpose of this paper is to present a generalized hesitant fuzzy synergetic weighted distance (GHFSWD) measure, which is based on the generalized hesitant fuzzy weighted distance (GHFWD) measure and the generalized hesitant fuzzy ordered weighted distance (GHFOWD) measure proposed by Xu and Xia [Z. Xu, M. Xia, Distance and similarity measures for hesitant fuzzy sets, Inf. Sci. 181 (2011) 2128–2138.], and investigate its some desirable properties and special cases. The GHFSWD measure not only generalizes both the GHFWD and GHFOWD measures as well as the common hesitant fuzzy distance measures, but also reflects the importance degrees of both the given individual distances and their ordered positions. Then, based on the defined notions of positive ideal hesitant fuzzy set and negative ideal hesitant fuzzy set, we utilize the proposed GHFSWD measure to develop a method for multiple criteria decision making with hesitant fuzzy information. The method is flexible because it allows decision makers to provide preference with hesitancy and determine different decision results by choosing different decision strategies. Finally, a numerical example is provided to illustrate the feasibility and practicality of the proposed method.     

The extended QUALIFLEX method for multiple criteria decision analysis based on interval type-2 fuzzy sets and applications to medical decision making

QUALIFLEX, a generalization of Jacquet-Lagreze’s permutation method, is a useful outranking method in decision analysis because of its flexibility with respect to cardinal and ordinal information. This paper develops an extended QUALIFLEX method for handling multiple criteria decision-making problems in the context of interval type-2 fuzzy sets. Interval type-2 fuzzy sets contain membership values that are crisp intervals, which are the most widely used of the higher order fuzzy sets because of their relative simplicity. Using the linguistic rating system converted into interval type-2 trapezoidal fuzzy numbers, the extended QUALIFLEX method investigates all possible permutations of the alternatives with respect to the level of concordance of the complete preference order. Based on a signed distance-based approach, this paper proposes the concordance/discordance index, the weighted concordance/discordance index, and the comprehensive concordance/discordance index as evaluative criteria of the chosen hypothesis for ranking the alternatives. The feasibility and applicability of the proposed methods are illustrated by a medical decision-making problem concerning acute inflammatory demyelinating disease, and a comparative analysis with another outranking approach is conducted to validate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.     

A novel approach to interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy soft set based decision making

The soft set theory, originally proposed by Molodtsov, can be used as a general mathematical tool for dealing with uncertainty. The interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy soft set is a combination of an interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy set and a soft set. The aim of this paper is to investigate the decision making based on interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy soft sets. By means of level soft sets, we develop an adjustable approach to interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy soft sets based decision making and some numerical examples are provided to illustrate the developed approach. Furthermore, we also define the concept of the weighted interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy soft set and apply it to decision making.     

考虑可信度和属性优先级的犹豫模糊决策方法

研究了考虑可信度的犹豫模糊混合集成因子以及考虑属性优先级的犹豫模糊多属性决策方法。首先给出了用于衡量数据差异程度的加权变异率公式,并证明了其具有类似于基尼系数的优良度量性质,之后在此基础上提出了可信度诱导犹豫模糊混合平均(CIHFHA)算子。针对属性权重信息未知的犹豫模糊决策问题,构建了一种新的考虑属性优先级的熵值修正G1的组合赋权方法,该方法可有效地利用属性客观评价数据以及通过考虑属性优先级体现专家意见,解决了主客观权重分配问题,得出的属性权重更加客观、合理。之后给出了一种基于CIHFHA算子和组合赋权方法的多属性决策方法,算例说明该方法的有效性和实用性。     

基于灰色关联法和HA算子的Pythagorean模糊群决策方法

针对Pythagorean模糊群决策问题,提出一种基于Pythagorean模糊混合平均算子的决策方法。首先,提出一种基于Pythagorean模糊信息及其运算法则的Pythagorean模糊混合平均算子;其次,构建一种基于最大熵模型的属性位置权重定权方法,同时根据灰色关联方法提出一种属性客观权重计算方法,进而获得Pythagorean模糊混合平均算子的定权方法;利用Pythagorean模糊混合平均算子对单决策者信息进行融合,通过Pythagorean模糊加权平均算子对各专家信息进行融合,并依据得分函数与精确函数进行排序择优;最后,通过一个算例说明该方法的有效性和可行性。     

基于直觉模糊集的全区间决策方法

针对属性值为直觉模糊集且属性权重已知的模糊多属性决策问题,本文基于直觉模糊算术加权平均算子,提出了一种基于直觉模糊集的全区间决策方法。全区间决策函数引入了态度指标k,从而可以反映决策者态度的变化,从0到1变化k值,可以在整个区间内挖掘决策信息的变化,与得分函数法和基于距离TOPSIS贴近度方法相比,将过去的点值判断延伸至全区间判断,避免了决策信息的丢失现象,决策更加准确合理。实例计算表明该方法的正确性、有效性和合理性,具有一定的推广借鉴价值。     

基于新直觉模糊相似度的大规模群决策方法

研究了群体规模较大情况下基于直觉模糊评价信息的决策方法。提出一种新的直觉模糊相似度公式,研究了一种新的直觉模糊聚类方法,设计了一种基于新的聚类方法的核心决策者权重确定方法。实例分析说明了该方法的合理性和可行性。     

直觉模糊多属性的意见集中排序法

研究了属性权重信息不完全确定,属性值为直觉模糊集的多属性决策问题。首先根据直觉模糊数的得分函数和精确函数对决策矩阵中的评价值比较大小,进而按属性集中的每个属性对方案排成线性序;然后通过计算赋权模糊优先矩阵确定方案的优属度,建立规划模型确定属性的权重;再利用加权算术算子对方案集结,得到专家对方案的排序,从而得到一种新的意见集中排序的决策方法。数值实例说明该方法的有效性和实用性,可为解决直觉模糊多属性决策提供新方法     

Modeling subjective evaluation for fuzzy group multicriteria decision making

This paper presents a new fuzzy multicriteria decision making (MCDM) approach for evaluating decision alternatives involving subjective judgements made by a group of decision makers. A pairwise comparison process is used to help individual decision makers make comparative judgements, and a linguistic rating method is used for making absolute judgements. A hierarchical weighting method is developed to assess the weights of a large number of evaluation criteria by pairwise comparisons. To reflect the inherent imprecision of subjective judgements, individual assessments are aggregated as a group assessment using triangular fuzzy numbers. To obtain a cardinal preference value for each decision alternative, a new fuzzy MCDM algorithm is developed by extending the concept of the degree of optimality to incorporate criteria weights in the distance measurement. An empirical study of aircraft selection is presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the approach.     

Multi-attribute group decision-making with multi-granularity linguistic assessment information: An improved approach based on deviation and TOPSIS

With respect to group decision-making problems with multi-granularity linguistic assessment information, a new approach is proposed. Firstly, the computational formulae are given in order to transform and unify the multi-granularity linguistic comparison matrices. Secondly, the method of standard and mean deviation is applied to determine the unknown attribute weights, and the weights of the decision makers will be determined by using the extended TOPSIS (technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution) method. Finally, based on the LWAA (linguistic weighted arithmetic averaging) operator, information on the preference provided by each decision maker is aggregated into the comprehensive evaluation value of each alternative, and the most desirable alternative is selected. The proposed approach expands the research in multi-attribute group decision-making with multi-granularity linguistic assessment information by both considering the weights of the attributes and decision makers, and objective weighting for them. A numerical example is given to illustrate the practicability and usefulness of the proposed approach.     

基于OWGA算子的偏好信息集结法及其在群决策中的应用

研究了决策者的偏好信息以不同形式给出的群决策问题。首先，利用不同偏好信息之间的转换公式，将偏好次序型、效用值型、互反判断矩阵型三种偏好信息一致化为模糊互补判断矩阵型的偏好信息；其次。利用加权几何平均（OWGA）算子对一致化后的决策信息进行集结。再对方案的加权几何平均优势度进行综合集结，并以此进行方案的排序，提出了基于OWGA算子的群决策方法，该方法具有操作简便和计算量少的特点。最后。通过实例说明方法的可行性和实用性。     

基于偏好和动态直觉的产学研合作伙伴选择群决策分析

针对产学研合作伙伴选择的有限理性和偏好特性,基于直觉模糊多属性决策理论和相对熵理论,构建产学研合作伙伴选择群决策模型。运用动态直觉模糊加权几何算子(DIFWG)集成合作伙伴不同时段的个人准则决策矩阵,实现对产学研合作伙伴持续性的评价;运用直觉模糊有序加权平均算子(IFOWA)集成不同决策者的决策矩阵和偏好矩阵,并利用决策者对合作伙伴的主观偏好与对合作伙伴各准则的客观评价之间差距的极小化,基于加权平均思想,求取评价准则的客观权重;然后,引入相对熵求取评价对象理想的最优权重解,依据该解对各合作伙伴进行排序并选择;最终通过实证研究说明了该方法的有效性和可行性,充分利用直觉模糊理论,实现了产学研合作伙伴的“群偏好—多时段—群决策”的全面评价。