Outranking-Based Interactive Exploration of a Set of Multicriteria Alternatives

Interactive procedures are very effective for exploring sets of alternatives with a view to finding the best compromise alternative. In this paper we consider the interactive exploration of implicitly or explicitly given large sets of alternatives. Upon review of classical interactive procedures, which usually assume a utility function preference model, we distinguish three typical operations used in various interactive procedures: contraction of the explored set, exploration of some neighbourhood of a current alternative and reduction of a sample of the explored set. After pointing out some areas for improvement in the traditional procedures, we describe three interactive procedures performing the three operations respectively using an outranking relation preference model. Owing to the proposed ways of building and exploiting the outranking relation, the weak points of the traditional procedures can be overcome. Finally we solve an exemplary problem using all three procedures. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multicriteria Classification with Unknown Categories: A Clustering–Sorting Approach and an Application to Conflict Management

This work proposes an approach to cluster and sort a set of alternatives considering multi‐criteria categories with a partial order structure. It can be considered a heuristic approach because it does not attempt to derive an optimal partial order among all conceivable clusters of alternatives. Rather than this, it intends to be a simple approach that is transparent to the Decision Maker (DM) whose assistance is sought to help shaping the results. The approach proposed arises from the conjugation of traditional Clustering analysis and Multi‐criteria sorting tools. At the outset, the number of categories and their characteristics is unknown. First, we need to detect only the clusters themselves on the basis of a similarity measure independent of the preferences of the DM. Next, we detect potential partial order relations that might exist between them, according to the subjective preferences of the DM. Such preferences are elicited only after the DM has examined the clusters detected and deemed that these categories made sense. The new approach performs very well in a real‐world problem of management of intragroup conflicts and conflict handling strategies. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Multiplicative AHP,SMART and ELECTRE in a Common Context

This paper presents a comparative study of three popular methods for multicriteria decision analysis based on a particular model of human preferential judgement. Since decisions are invariably made within a given context, we model relative preferences as ratios of increments or decrements in an interval on an axis of desirability. Next we sort the ratio magnitudes into a small number of categories, represented by numerical values on a geometric scale. We explain why the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the French collection of ELECTRE methods, typically based on pairwise comparison methods, are concerned with categories of ratio magnitudes, whereas the simple multiattribute rating technique (SMART) essentially uses orders of magnitude of these ratios. This phenomenon provides a common basis for the analysis of the methods in question and for a cross-validation of their results. We illustrate the approach via a well-known case study, the choice of a location for a nuclear power plant. We conclude by discussing the scope of the comparative study. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the Similarities of Some Multi‐Criteria Decision Analysis Methods

Since multiple criteria characterise many practical decision problems, the research field of multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) is flourishing. This paper compares the multi‐attribute decision making (MADM) methods, simple additive rating (SAR), simple additive weighting (SAW) as well as the outranking approach PROMETHEE and explains their similarities. We present a case study on industrial paint application and provide theoretical evidence that PROMETHEE can mimic other MADM algorithms. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Common Framework for Describing Some Outranking Methods

Outranking methods such as ELECTRE have been proposed for aggregating preference information on several criteria into an overall preference structure in cases where the multiattribute utility approach is not appropriate or feasible. We present here a framework in which such methods may be described and, hopefully in the future, axiomatically characterized. We point out several characteristics such as independence and semiordinality which seem to be pertinent to delineate the field of application of these procedures. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An Interactive Approach for Multicriteria Decision Making Using a Tchebycheff Utility Function Approximation

Multicriteria decision making (MCDM) can provide an efficient mean for considering various and conflicting objectives to reveal the alternative that maximizes the decision maker's (DM) utility. In this paper, we propose a new interactive MCDM method for implicit alternatives to help a DM obtain a most preferred solution. We employ a Tchebycheff function to generate weights for objectives consistent with the DM's responses to pairwise comparisons between alternatives and present a mixed integer linear programming formulation to generate these weights. Thus, we approximate the DM's utility function by a Tchebycheff function and generate weights consistent with the DM's responses. We test our approach with different true utility functions on various sized multiple criteria linear programming problems. The computational results show that even with non‐Tchebycheff true utility functions, our method can generate alternatives very close to the optimal solution with few questions. The comparison of our results with other methods reveals its advantages. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Psychometric Analysis of the “Divide and Conquer” Principle in Multicriteria Decision Making

The principle of “Divide and Conquer” (DAC) suggests that: (1) complex decision problems should be decomposed into smaller, more manageable parts and (2) these smaller parts should be logically aggregated to derive an overall value for each alternative. Typically, decompositional procedures have been compared to holistic evaluations that require decision makers to simultaneously consider all of the relevant attributes in the evaluation of the objects under consideration. These comparisons between decompositional and holistic judgments have primarily used a variant of Multiattribute Utility Theory (MAUT).We presented a general experimental framework that allows for a more extensive assessment of the DAC principle, as well as the effects of decision complexity on both holistic and decompositional procedures. We illustrate this approach with a study that uses the Simple Multiattribute Rating Technique with Swing Weights (SMARTS; Edwards & Barron, 1994) and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP; Saaty, 1980). We report data comparing the convergent validity (e.g the agreement between decompositional and holistic strategies) and the temporal stability for decompositional and holistic judgments on a variety of dependent measures. Decision complexity did not significantly affect the correspondence between decompositional and holistic judgments for both SMARTS and AHP judgments. Results from an ordinal measure of temporal stability indicated the DAC principle was violated for the AHP judgments. For a linear measure of temporal stability, trends in the data indicated that the predicted effects of decision complexity on the DAC principle was violated for the SMARTS judgments.     

从心理学杂志相关文献看我国心理咨询与治疗方法的现状

对我国近年来已在实践中应用,并在心理学学术刊物上发表的心理咨询与治疗的方法进行了梳理,目的是探寻我国心理咨询与治疗方法的现状及存在问题.结果表明:我国心理咨询与治疗从业者所采用的方法绝大多数来源于国外;也有极少数本土化和本土的方法,但其研究及推广有限;从业者所采用的折衷方法多于单一方法,多数折衷方法是认知疗法和行为疗法的结合,或是将这二种方法结合其他疗法使用.     

Development of a Robust Multicriteria Classification Model for Monitoring the Postoperative Behaviour of Heart Patients

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia occurring in 2% of the general population, while the assuming projected incidence in 2050 will rise to 4.3%. This paper presents a multicriteria methodology for the development of a model for monitoring the post‐operative behaviour of patients who have received treatment for AF. The model classifies the patients in seven categories according to their relapse risk, on the basis of seven criteria related to the AF type and pathology conditions, the treatment received by the patients and their medical history. The analysis is based on an extension of the UTilités Additives DIScriminantes (UTADIS) method, through the introduction of a two‐stage model development procedure that minimizes the number and the magnitude of the misclassifications. The analysis is based on a sample of 116 patients who had pulmonary veins isolation in a Greek public hospital. The classification accuracy of the best fitted models scores between 71% and 84%. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Affirming Control by Multiple Reinforcers via Progressive Treatment Analysis

It is common to isolate reinforcement contingencies across several test conditions in functional analyses of problem behavior; however, synthesizing all reinforcement contingencies in a single test condition may also have merit and even be necessary in some cases. Following a differentiated functional analysis, which relied on an interview‐informed synthesized test condition, functional communication training (FCT) was applied across the three suspected contingencies of reinforcement, partly in an attempt to understand the relevance of each. Communication responses were acquired for all three reinforcers, and problem behavior ceased only when all contingencies were addressed via FCT, suggesting that problem behavior was controlled by multiple contingencies of reinforcement. These analyses suggest that control by multiple contingencies of reinforcement can be understood during the treatment development process following a highly efficient functional analysis. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Robust Methods for Moderation Analysis with a Two-Level Regression Model

Moderation analysis has many applications in social sciences. Most widely used estimation methods for moderation analysis assume that errors are normally distributed and homoscedastic. When these assumptions are not met, the results from a classical moderation analysis can be misleading. For more reliable moderation analysis, this article proposes two robust methods with a two-level regression model when the predictors do not contain measurement error. One method is based on maximum likelihood with Student's t distribution and the other is based on M-estimators with Huber-type weights. An algorithm for obtaining the robust estimators is developed. Consistent estimates of standard errors of the robust estimators are provided. The robust approaches are compared against normal-distribution-based maximum likelihood (NML) with respect to power and accuracy of parameter estimates through a simulation study. Results show that the robust approaches outperform NML under various distributional conditions. Application of the robust methods is illustrated through a real data example. An R program is developed and documented to facilitate the application of the robust methods.     

脑电图分析的方法论

临床诊断中的脑电图分析方法可归为两大类：线性分析法与非线性分析法。本文介绍了这两类方法中常用的算法如谱估计、小波分析、混沌分析方法等,分析了这两类方法的特点、优势以及存在的不足。同时讨论了在临床应用中选取这两类方法所出现的问题。提出了将人工势场法用于脑电图分析的新思路,并对研究方案进行了可行性分析。     

Factors Related to Recidivism Among Delinquent Youths in a State Correctional Facility

Identifying and remediating variables accounting for recidivism has been a persistent and often controversial challenge. We investigated factors that may be related to recidivism among delinquent youths committed to a state correctional facility. Data were collected by examining the records of 147 recidivists and 147 non-recidivists. Our findings are consistent with previous research showing age of first offense and first commitment differentiated recidivists and non-recidivists. Additional discriminant factors included deficits in basic skills, special education background, gang affiliation, and length of stay at the facility.     

Treatment of Temper Tantrums by a Paradoxical Intervention

In the present case, a paradoxical intervention was employed in the treatment of a 4-year-old boy for temper tantrums. Temper tantrums, which had been a daily occurrence, disappeared entirely after the second session. A follow-up at nine months indicated there had been no further tantrums.     

Factors Related to Recidivism Among Delinquent Females at a State Correctional Facility

Although much of the research has focused on male delinquents, females are increasingly involved in violent crimes. We investigated factors that may be related to recidivism among delinquent females committed to a state correctional facility. The records of 238 female delinquents were examined and 96 were found to be recidivists. Our findings were consistent with previous research showing that age at first offense and first commitment differentiated recidivists from non-recidivists. Additional discriminant factors included deficits in basic math skills, gang affiliation, abuse, location of residence, and length of stay at the facility.     

关注幽门螺杆菌治疗中的实际问题

我国对Hp感染诊断和治疗有自己的标准,也有很多成熟的经验,但在根除HP治疗过程中,存在诸多问题,如过度医疗、适应证掌握不严格、第一次根除失败后再次治疗不规范等。我们应共同关注这些问题,提高Hp根除率,降低治疗中的副作用,对HP的许多未知问题从不认识到认识。     

Current Directions in Mediation Analysis

ABSTRACT— Mediating variables continue to play an important role in psychological theory and research. A mediating variable transmits the effect of an antecedent variable on to a dependent variable, thereby providing more detailed understanding of relations among variables. Methods to assess mediation have been an active area of research for the last two decades. This paper describes the current state of methods to investigate mediating variables.