| Abstract: | The problem of ranking of elements from some finite set on the basis of nearest adjoining order method for pairwise comparisons
is investigated in this paper. It is assumed that in the set under consideration there exists a weak preference relation,
which is to be identified (estimated) on the basis of pairwise comparisons in the form of difference of ranks. Moreover, the
results of comparisons may be disturbed with random errors; the assumptions made about error distributions are not restrictive.
The paper comprises: the problem formulation (definitions, assumptions, and optimisation problem, which provides the NAO solution)
and the theoretical background – the form of distributions of random variables which make it possible to determine the properties
of NAO solution, in particular, evaluation of the probability, that the NAO solution is equivalent to the errorless one. The
approach presented in the paper can be extended to the case of more than one comparison for each pair of elements, i.e., completely
formalised multi-experts ranking procedure.
This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
