VASMA weighting: survey-based criteria weighting methodology that combines ENTROPY and WASPAS-SVNS to reflect the psychometric features of the VAS scales

Abstract

Data symmetry and asymmetry might cause difficulties in various areas including criteria weighting approaches. Preference elicitation is an integral part of the multicriteria decision-making process. Weighting approaches differ in terms of accuracy, ease of use, complexity, and theoretical foundations. When the opinions of the wider audience are needed, electronic surveys with the matrix questions consisting of the visual analogue scales (VAS) might be employed as the easily understandable data collection tool. The novel criteria weighting technique VASMA weighting (VAS Matrix for the criteria weighting) is presented in this paper. It respects the psychometric features of the VAS scales and analyzes the uncertainties caused by the survey-based preference elicitation. VASMA weighting integrates WASPAS-SVNS for the determination of the subjective weights and Shannon entropy for the calculation of the objective weights. Numerical example analyzing the importance of the criteria that affect parents’ decisions regarding the choice of the kindergarten institution was performed as the practical application. Comparison of the VASMA weighting and the direct rating (DR) methodologies was done. It revealed that VASMA weighting is able to overcome the main disadvantages of the DR technique—the high biases of the collected data and the low variation of the criteria weights.