A Consensus-Reaching Approach to the Evaluation of Product Design Alternatives with Multiple Preference Structures

With interdisciplinarity being an important characteristic of contemporary product design, the evaluation of design alternatives also involves multiple disciplines, and the evaluator group usually consists of evaluators from different fields and with obvious heterogeneous characteristics. To effectively satisfy the heterogeneous needs of evaluators and improve the credibility of evaluation results, the paper introduces a consensus-reaching approach that incorporates multiple preferences to the evaluation of product design alternatives. First, in order to obtain individual preference information, each evaluator is asked to evaluate all the design alternatives using a preference structure that he/she is familiar with. Second, we use a transfer function to uniform the evaluation information obtained from various preference structures into a complementary judgment matrix. Then, we use the Hybrid Weighted Averaging (HWA) operator weight determination model to aggregate the preference information and obtain the group preference information. Then, we measure the consensus degree between individual evaluators and the group using a consensus measurement method. After that, we use the feedback mechanism to instruct individual evaluators to modify their preferences until a consensus is achieved. We explain the application steps and the feasibility of this approach through the evaluation of the design alternatives of multichannel fluorescence immunochromatography analyzers (MFIAs).

Research on the optimal aggregation method of fuzzy preference information based on spatial Steiner-Weber point

In view of the present situation that most aggregation methods of fuzzy preference information are extended or mixed by classical aggregation operators, which leads to the aggregation accuracy is not high. The purpose of this paper is to develop a novel method for spatial aggregation of fuzzy preference information. Thus we map the fuzzy preference information to a set of three-dimensional coordinate and construct the spatial aggregation model based on Steiner-Weber point. Then, the plant growth simulation algorithm (PGSA) algorithm is used to find the spatial aggregation point. According to the comparison and analysis of the numerical example, the aggregation matrix established by our method is closer to the group preference matrices. Therefore, the optimal aggregation point obtained by using the optimal aggregation method based on spatial Steiner-Weber point can best represent the comprehensive opinion of the decision makers.

Preference–Approval Structures in Group Decision Making: Axiomatic Distance and Aggregation

Preference–approval structure combines the preference information of both ranking and approval, which extends the ordinal preference model by incorporating two categories of choice alternatives, that is, acceptable (good) and unacceptable (bad), in the preference modeling process. In this study, we present some axioms that imply the existence of a unique distance function of preference–approval structures. Based on theoretical analysis and simulation experiments, we further study a preferences aggregation model in the group decision-making context based on the proposed axiomatic distance function. In this model, the group preference is defined as a preference–approval structure that minimizes the sum of its distances to all preference–approval structures of individuals in the group under consideration. Particularly, we show that the group preference defined by the axiomatic distance–based aggregation model has close relationships with the simple majority rule and Cook and Seiford’s ranking.

Пілотна оцінка ставлення експертів до значущості характерних рис інноваційної привабливості об’єктів інтелектуальної власності

Modern technology transfer is associated, inter alia, with the selection and implementation into production of the objects of intellectual property. At the same time, proactive assessment of the investors’ or experts’ attitude to the characteristics and indicators of these objects determines the appropriate "order" and promotes more effective interaction between the producers and the users of intellectual property. The experts’ preference patterns as the ordered series of many characteristics of attractiveness for innovation of objects of intellectual property are one of the indicators of human influence on decision-making about the degree of acceptability of a particular object and should be used to implement the method of successive concessions based on the pattern recognition methodology, "glob pattern/masks" of this acceptability. The research involved m = 90 highly qualified specialists who are constantly involved in UkrISTEI to provide various expert examinations. A more up-to-date list of n=18 characteristics of attractiveness for innovation of objects of intellectual property has been formed, which allows to study these objects comprehensively and to the fullest extent. The pairwise comparison and normative method of establishing part of the total value (significance, acceptability) of these characteristics were used by the experts, who took part in the research. They built individual systems of preferences, which were then aggregated into a group preference pattern using a group decision-making strategy such as summarizing and grade averaging. Verification of consistency of the group preference pattern revealed that the obtained empirical value of the Kendall's coefficient of concordance is statistically valid at an unusually high level of significance of a= 1% as for human factor studies. However, it does not satisfy the criterion for the minimum acceptable value: Wemp.=0,4772<Wmin=0,7. The ways of further research related to the application of multi-step technology of detection and elimination of marginal thoughts while eliminating the statistical error of the "survivor", as well as improving the group preference pattern where the classical Savage’s criterion in decision-making and the Kemeni median are applied.

Visualization of preference aggregation based on Weber point in social network group decision-making problem

PurposeThis study aims to construct a Weber point-based model to complete the visualization of preference aggregation in group decision-making problem, in which decision-makers are associated with trust relationship.Design/methodology/approachThis study mainly comprises four parts: trust propagation, preference aggregation, opinion adjustment and alternative selection. Firstly, the incomplete trust between decision-makers is completed with trust transfer operators and propagation probability in trust propagation process. Secondly, a preference aggregation model based on Weber point is proposed to aggregate the group preference visually. Thirdly, opinions are adjusted to reach a consensus. Finally, the ranking of alternatives is determined by the correlation coefficient with the group preference as a reference.FindingsThe Weber point-based model proposed in this study can minimize the gap in the preference of alternatives between the group and all decision-makers, and realize the visualization of aggregation result. A case of plan selection is introduced to illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed model.Originality/valueBy comparing the result with the weighted average-based preference aggregation method, the Weber point-based model proposed in this study can show the result of preference aggregation intuitively and improve group consensus.

Exposure and Aversion to Human Transmissible Diseases Predict Conservative Ideological and Partisan Preferences

The objective prevalence of and subjective vulnerability to infectious diseases are associated with greater in-group preference, conformity, and traditionalism. However, evidence directly testing the link between infectious diseases and political ideology and partisanship is lacking. Across four studies, including a large sample representative of the U.S. population (N &gt; 12,000), we demonstrate that higher environmental levels of human transmissible diseases and avoidance of germs from human carriers predict conservative ideological and partisan preferences. During the COVID-19 pandemic (N = 848), we replicated this germ aversion finding and determined that these conservative preferences were primarily driven by avoidance of germs from out-groups (foreigners) rather than in-groups (locals). Moreover, socially conservative individuals expressed lower concerns of being susceptible to contracting infectious diseases during the pandemic and worried less about COVID-19. These effects were robust to individual-level and state-level controls. We discuss these findings in light of theory on parasite stress and the behavioral immune system, and with regard to the political implications of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Internalization of societal stereotypes as individual prejudice

How do stereotypic messages about social groups become internalized in an individual’s own preferences and behaviors? We proposed that exposure to such group messages influences how we learn from individual group members in subsequent direct interactions. In a series of experiments, participants interacted with players from two groups, described with positive or negative stereotypes, in a monetary sharing game. Although the actual sharing rates of individual players were equated between groups, stereotypic messages biased how participants learned from and interacted with individual players—a pattern not evident in deliberative decisions or explicit beliefs regarding players’ sharing rates. Computational models revealed that this group preference reflected a combination of biased priors and biased reward updating: stereotypes set participants’ initial expectancies about group members’ behaviors and impaired their ability to learn through direct interaction and feedback. Next, we found that the expression of this bias in a direct learner’s behavior is unwittingly propagated to naïve observational learners, who come to show bias in their own behaviors. In a final set of experiments, we demonstrated this pattern of internalization and propagation when a stereotypic message is attributed to a political leader (Donald Trump), even among participants with opposing political views. These findings offer the first mechanistic account of how explicit messages about group stereotypes and inequalities may be internalized in an individual’s mind as prejudice, from where it is expressed implicitly and propagated to others.

Social inequity, taxes and welfare in Australasia

© 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited. Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to highlight, challenge and explain the inequitable treatment of tax and welfare fraudsters in the criminal justice systems of Australia and New Zealand. The authors offer prejudice by way of explanation and suggest that it is also prejudice that restricts the implementation of more equitable processes. A second objective of the study is to highlight the importance of critical tax research as an instrument to agitate for social change. Design/methodology/approach: A survey captures 3,000 respondents’ perceptions of the likelihood that different “types” of people will commit welfare or tax fraud. Using social dominance theory, the authors investigate the extent to which prejudice impacts on attitudes towards those engaged in these fraudulent activities. Findings: The authors find the presence of traditional stereotypes, such as the perception that businessmen are more likely to commit tax fraud and people receiving welfare assistance are more likely to commit fraud. The authors also find strong preferences towards respondents’ own in-group, whereby businessmen, Maori and people receiving welfare assistance believed that their own group was less likely to commit either crime. Social implications: Where in-group preference exists among those who construct and enforce the rules relating to investigations, prosecutions and sentencing of tax and welfare fraud, it is perhaps unsurprising that welfare recipients attract less societal support than other groups who have support from their own in-groups that have greater power, resources and influence. Originality/value: The study highlights the difficulty of social change in the presence of strong in-group preference and prejudice. Cognisance of in-group preference is relevant to the accounting profession where elements of self-regulation remain. In-group preferences may impact on services provided, as well as professional development and education.

Social inequity, taxes and welfare in Australasia

© 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited. Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to highlight, challenge and explain the inequitable treatment of tax and welfare fraudsters in the criminal justice systems of Australia and New Zealand. The authors offer prejudice by way of explanation and suggest that it is also prejudice that restricts the implementation of more equitable processes. A second objective of the study is to highlight the importance of critical tax research as an instrument to agitate for social change. Design/methodology/approach: A survey captures 3,000 respondents’ perceptions of the likelihood that different “types” of people will commit welfare or tax fraud. Using social dominance theory, the authors investigate the extent to which prejudice impacts on attitudes towards those engaged in these fraudulent activities. Findings: The authors find the presence of traditional stereotypes, such as the perception that businessmen are more likely to commit tax fraud and people receiving welfare assistance are more likely to commit fraud. The authors also find strong preferences towards respondents’ own in-group, whereby businessmen, Maori and people receiving welfare assistance believed that their own group was less likely to commit either crime. Social implications: Where in-group preference exists among those who construct and enforce the rules relating to investigations, prosecutions and sentencing of tax and welfare fraud, it is perhaps unsurprising that welfare recipients attract less societal support than other groups who have support from their own in-groups that have greater power, resources and influence. Originality/value: The study highlights the difficulty of social change in the presence of strong in-group preference and prejudice. Cognisance of in-group preference is relevant to the accounting profession where elements of self-regulation remain. In-group preferences may impact on services provided, as well as professional development and education.