Evaluating the potential trade-off between students’ satisfaction and school performance using evolutionary multiobjective optimization

In this article, we carry out a combined econometric and multiobjective analysis using data from a representative sample of Andalusian schools. In particular, four econometric models are estimated in which the students’ academic performance (scores in math and reading, and percentage of students reaching a certain threshold in both subjects, respectively) are regressed against the satisfaction of students with different aspects of the teaching-learning process. From these estimates, four objective functions are defined which have been simultaneously maximized, subject to a set of constraints obtained by analyzing dependencies between explanatory variables. This multiobjective programming model is intended to optimize the students’ academic performance as a function of the students’ satisfaction. To solve this problem we use a decomposition-based evolutionary multiobjective algorithm called Global WASF-GA with different scalarizing functions which allows generating an approximation of the Pareto optimal front. In general, the results show the importance of promoting respect and closer interaction between students and teachers, as a way to increase the average performance of the students and the proportion of high performance students.

Wastewater treatment systems selection inside watersheds by using multiobjective analysis

ABSTRACT In order to determine required wastewater treatment plants (WWTP’s) efficiencies, several methodologies have been proposed to assist the sewage treatment systems process selection, usually aiming to achieve economic objectives. However, in water resources problems solving, search involves multiple and conflicting objectives. This work used, for Pardo’s river basin (Espírito Santo State, Brazil), water quality simulation model, optimization technique and multiobjective analysis for selecting sewage treatment systems, taking into account Brazilian environmental effluents Biochemical Oxygen Demand standards, imposed by CONAMA Resolution 430/2011. After proposing an optimization model that allowed the estimation of minimum organic matter removal efficiencies, a multiobjective analysis was applied by using the ELECTRE III method, which selected sewage treatment systems for localities responsible for domestic wastewater disposal in Pardo’s river basin. The results indicated that keeping the effluents standards can produce treatment plants overestimation and inadequate allocated financial resources distribution for sewage treatment plants implementation. Treatment systems such as Submerged Aerated Biofilters (with Nitrification), Wetlands and Facultative Ponds were the most selected, considering different contexts appreciated in this work.