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In some actual decision-making problems, experts may be hesitant to judge the performances of alternatives, which leads to experts providing decision matrices with incomplete information. However, most existing estimation methods for incomplete information in group decision-making (GDM) neglect the hesitant judgments of experts, possibly making the group decision outcomes unreasonable. Considering the hesitation degrees of experts in decision judgments, an approach is proposed based on the triangular intuitionistic fuzzy numbers (TIFNs) and TODIM (interactive and multiple criteria decision-making) method for GDM and consensus measure. First, TIFNs are applied to handle incomplete information due to the hesitant judgments of experts. Second, considering the risk attitudes of experts, a decision-making model is proposed to rank alternatives for GDM with incomplete information. Subsequently, based on measuring the concordance between solutions, a consensus model is presented to measure the group's and individual's consensus degrees. Finally, an illustrative example is presented to show the detailed implementation procedure of the proposed approach. The comparisons with some existing estimation methods verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach for handling incomplete information. The impacts and necessities of experts' hesitation degrees are discussed by a sensitivity analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of single-valued neutrosophic sets (SVNSs) is considered as an attractive tool for dealing with highly ambiguous and uncertain information. The correlation coefficient of SVNSs acts as an important measure in the single-valued neutrosophic set theory and it has been applied in various fields, such as the pattern recognition, medical diagnosis, decision-making and also clustering analysis. To alleviate the weakness of the existing correlation coefficients, a novel statistical correlation coefficient is put forward to measure the degree of correlation between two SVNSs. This statistical correlation coefficient is developed based on the variance and covariance of SVNSs and its value is between −1 and 1. When solving the multicriteria decision making problems, the criteria show different weight values. To consider the weight information of multiple criteria, the weighted statistical correlation coefficient is developed for SVNSs. Afterwards, two numerical examples are given to show the effectiveness of the proposed statistical correlation coefficient in the pattern recognition, which can accurately classify unknown patterns into known patterns. Finally, the feasibility and practicability of the proposed correlation coefficient formula are illustrated by a practical multiple attribute decision making problem of traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis. The comparative results show that the proposed correlation coefficient formula is rational and effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a novel fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making method based on an improved score function of connection numbers and Choquet integral under interval-valued Pythagorean fuzzy environment. To do so, we first introduce a method to convert interval-valued Pythagorean fuzzy numbers into connection numbers based on the set pair analysis theory. Then an improved score function of connection numbers is proposed to make the ranking order of connection numbers more in line with reality in multi-criteria decision-making process. In addition, some properties of the proposed score function of connection numbers and some examples have been given to illustrate the advantages of conversion method proposed in the paper. Then, considering interactions among different criteria, we propose a fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making approach based on set pair analysis and Choquet integral under interval-valued Pythagorean fuzzy environment. Finally, a case of online learning satisfaction survey and a brief comparative analysis with other existing approaches are studied to show that the proposed method is simple,convenient and easy to implement. Comparing with previous studies, the method in this paper, from a new perspective, effectively deals with multi-criteria decision-making problems that the alternatives cannot be reasonably ranked in the decision-making process under interval-valued Pythagorean fuzzy environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How to determine a suitable security algorithm for a special application scenario is a complex problem. In this paper, this complex problem is formulated as a multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) problem, and we propose a novel MULTIMOORA (multiobjective optimization on the basis of a ratio analysis plus the full MULTIpevaluation information in the security algorithms evaluation problem. The MULTIMOORA method is an excellent decision method, which owns strong robustness. However, it has not been used to process the complex information structure of q-rung orthopair fuzzy sets. Moreover, it cannot solve the problem that the extreme values negatively influence the ranking results, and it also cannot capture the interrelationship hiding behind the criteria. To overcome the above challenges, we propose novel q-rung orthopair fuzzy Dombi power Heronian mean (DPHM) operator and q-rung orthopair fuzzy Dombi power geometric Heronian mean (DPGHM) operator. Based on these two operators, the MULTIMOORA method is improved for solving the security algorithms' evaluation problem. Finally, a practical example for evaluating five security algorithms is used to illustrate the decision process of the proposed q-rung orthopair fuzzy MULTIMOORA method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The picture fuzzy sets (PFSs) state or model the voting information accurately without information loss. However, their existing operational laws usually generate unreasonable computing results, especially when the agreement degree (AD) or neutrality degree (ND) or opposition degree (OD) is zero. To tackle this issue, we propose the interactional operational laws (IOLs) to compute picture fuzzy numbers (PFNs), which can capture the interaction between the ADs and NDs in two PFNs, as well as the interaction between the ADs and ODs in two PFNs. Based on the proposed novel IOLs, partitioned Heronian mean (PHM) operator, and partitioned geometric Heronian mean (PGHM) operator, some picture fuzzy interactional PHM (PFIPHM), weighted PFIPHM (PFIWPHM), geometric PFIPHM (PFIPGHM), and weighted PFIPGHM (PFIWPGHM) operators are proposed in this paper. Afterwards, we investigate the properties of these operators. Using the PFIWPHM and PFIWPGHM operators, a novel multiple attribute decision-making (MADM) method with PFNs is elaborated. Finally, a study example that involves the service quality ranking of nursing facilities is provided to show the decision procedure of the proposed MADM method and we also give the comparative analysis between the proposed operators and the existing aggregation operators developed for PFNs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating startup companies is an important management process for technology business incubators and it is also a typical multicriteria decision‐making (MCDM) problem. There exist various methods that have proposed to solve MCDM problems, but these methods heavily depend on the exact criteria weight values. The decision results of these methods are unstable. Moreover, they cannot provide the improvement suggestions for the nonoptimal startup companies. To overcome these two drawbacks, we propose a novel hesitant fuzzy linguistic decision‐making method to solve the problem of evaluating startup companies. To this end, a novel semantic comparison method based on the experts' psychology and the ratio of score value to deviation degree is proposed to compare the hesitant fuzzy linguistic term sets. Then, a novel definition of hesitant fuzzy linguistic information envelopment efficiency (HFLIEE) is proposed, based on which, a novel hesitant fuzzy linguistic information envelopment analysis (HFLIEA) model and a novel preference model are proposed. By solving these models, all the alternatives can be ranked and nonoptimal alternatives can be improved. Finally, the numerical analysis is given to illustrate the applicability of the proposed models and the robustness analyses of the proposed models are provided. At the same time, they are compared with the previous hesitant fuzzy linguistic decision‐making methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to the intuitionistic fuzzy sets, the Pythagorean fuzzy sets (PFSs) can provide the decision makers with more freedom to express their evaluation information. There exist some research results on the correlation coefficient between PFSs, but sometimes they fail to deal with the problems of disease diagnosis and cluster analysis. To tackle the drawbacks of the existing correlation coefficients between PFSs, some novel directional correlation coefficients are put forward to compute the relationship between two PFSs by taking four parameters of the PFSs into consideration, which are the membership degree, non-membership degree, strength of commitment, and direction of commitment. Afterwards, two practical examples are given to show the application of the proposed directional correlation coefficient in the disease diagnosis, and the application of the proposed weighted directional correlation coefficient in the cluster analysis. Finally, they are compared with the previous correlation coefficients that have been developed for PFSs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The MULTIMOORA method is better than some of the existing decision making methods. However, it has not been improved to process Pythagorean fuzzy sets (PFSs). The decision results of the MULTIMOORA method greatly depend on the distance measure and score function. Although there are many studies focusing on proposing distance measures and score functions for PFSs, they still show some defects. In this paper, we propose two novel distance measures and a novel score function for PFSs for proposing a novel Pythagorean fuzzy MULTIMOORA method. To this end, two distance measures, Dice distance and Jaccard distance, are proposed for computing the deviation degree between two PFSs, and their general forms are also discussed. Afterward, a novel score function based on determinacy degree and indeterminacy degree is put forward for approximately representing PFSs. Then, the original MULTIMOORA method is extended by using the Dice distance and score function and it is used to solve the multicriteria decision making problems under the PFS information context. Finally, a real case for evaluating solid-state disk productions is handled using the proposed Pythagorean fuzzy MULTIMOORA method and another case for evaluating energy projects is given to verify the advantages of our studies by comparing them with the existing Pythagorean fuzzy distance measures, score functions, and decision making methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The probabilistic hesitant fuzzy preference relations (PHFPRs) provide the decision makers with an efficient means to express the preference information on pairwise comparisons over alternatives. In this paper, we propose an automatic consistency improving model for PHFPRs. First, we propose a novel normalization algorithm to normalize probabilistic hesitant fuzzy elements (PHFEs) by using probability splitting idea and develop novel operational laws. Then, we define the consistency index to compute the degree of deviation between the PHFPRs and their multiplicative consistent PHFPRs. We also develop a novel consistency threshold estimation method for obtaining the threshold of consistency index and then put forward an automatic consistency improving algorithm for repairing inconsistent PHFPRs. Moreover, two probabilistic hesitant fuzzy aggregation operators are put forward to aggregate preference values in acceptably multiplicative consistent PHFPRs for obtaining the ranking orders of alternatives. Finally, an illustrative example is given to show the implementation process of our proposed automatic consistency improving model and also we compare our proposed model with the existing studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The linguistic intuitionistic fuzzy sets (LIFSs) and linguistic Pythagorean fuzzy sets (LPFSs) are two linguistic orthopair fuzzy sets whose membership grades are pairs of linguistic terms from the predefined linguistic term sets (LTSs). One linguistic term indicates the membership degree (MD), while the other one gives the nonmembership degree (NMD). In each LIFS, the sum of the subscripts of MD and NMD is less than the cardinality of LTS. In the LPFSs, the sum of the squares of the subscripts of MD and NMD is less than the square of the cardinality of LTS. In this paper, we propose a general form of these two linguistic orthopair fuzzy sets, which can be named linguistic q‐rung orthopair fuzzy sets. We devise the operational laws, based on which, the linguistic q‐rung orthopair fuzzy weighted averaging (LqROFWA) operator and linguistic q‐rung orthopair fuzzy weighted geometric (LqROFWG) operator are developed to aggregate the linguistic q‐rung orthopair fuzzy numbers (LqROFNs). Then, the novel interactional operational laws that consider the interactions between the MD and NMD from different LqROFNs are given. The partitioned geometric Heronian mean (PGHM) operator can effectively solve the decision‐making problems in which the attributes grouped into the same clusters have interrelationships and the attributes belonging to different clusters have no interrelationship. Based on these novel operational laws and PGHM operator, the linguistic q‐rung orthopair fuzzy interactional PGHM (LqROFIPGHM) operator and linguistic q‐rung orthopair fuzzy interactional weighted PGHM (LqROFIWPGHM) operator are proposed and their properties are discussed. Based on the LqROFIWPGHM operator, an efficient multiattribute group decision‐making model is given to deal with the linguistic q‐rung orthopair fuzzy information. Finally, the superiorities of the interactional operational laws and LqROFIWPGHM operator are tested using some illustrative examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a novel and powerful tool, the notion of probabilistic linguistic term sets (PLTSs) can efficiently model this kind of qualitative assessment information utilizing several possible linguistic terms associated with probabilities or weights over alternatives. Considering that there are no investigation and research on the correlation coefficient and clustering analysis for the concept of PLTSs. Therefore, some correlation coefficient formulas are put forward to measure the relationship between two PLTSs and then they are utilized to develop two novel clustering algorithms to group PLTSs in this paper. We first define some correlation coefficient formulas and their weighted forms to measure the relationship between PLTSs. Then, we extend a fuzzy clustering algorithm for PLTSs and also propose a novel orthogonal clustering algorithm for PLTSs. Finally, we provide a practical example, which performs cluster analysis on the levels of general higher education in different regions of China, to test and verify the usability of our proposed clustering algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Propose novel score function for PFSs. • Develop novel entropy measure for PFSs. • Put forward novel knowledge measure for PFSs. • Propose novel picture fuzzy MULTIMOORA method. • A practical case of car sharing station site selection in Beijing is given. The car sharing is an effective supplement to public transportation systems. However, how to select an appropriate site for building a car sharing station is a big challenge. Therefore, in this paper, a novel picture fuzzy multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) model is proposed to solve the site selection problem for car sharing stations. To this end, the definition of picture fuzzy sets is adopted to accurately portray the voting information. Then, a concept of knowledge measure is defined for PFNs and an objective method based on knowledge measure is proposed to derive the weight information of criteria. To rank the candidate sites for car sharing stations, an extended MULTIMOORA method based on novel score function and Borda rule is devised. The proposed MCDM model is applied to solve the site selection for car sharing stations in Bejing. Finally, comparative analyses are given to verify the superiority of the proposed MCDM model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The blockchain platforms (BPs) have emerged as important tools for improving enterprise data security. However, the selection of a suitable BP for is a challenging issue for enterprises. In this paper, a novel heterogenous multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) model is proposed to facilitate the BP selection and evaluation process. First, the evaluation criteria for BPs are defined through an analysis of popular BPs. Second, based on the defined evaluation criteria, multiple types of fuzzy numbers are adopted to accurately represent the evaluation criteria. Then, to deal with multiple types of fuzzy numbers, a hybrid distance measure is proposed to determine the negative and positive ideal separation matrices of the evaluation criteria. In addition, using the axiomatic design's information content metric the as basis, an improved method is proposed to unify the evaluation of multiple types into a single number. An improved weight method is then proposed based on the combination of objective and subjective weighting to obtain the comprehensive weights of the criteria. Finally, a closeness degree metric is introduced to obtain the ranking order of all BP alternatives. An example case is analyzed to illustrate how to evaluate and select a suitable BP. The superiority of the proposed heterogeneous model is verified by comparisons with state-of-the-art methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]