Most of the real-world multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problems contain a mixture of quantitative and qualitative criteria; therefore quantitative MCDM methods are inadequate for handling this type of decision problems. In this paper, a MCDM method based on the Fuzzy Sets Theory and on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is proposed. This method incorporates a number of perspectives on h...

This (part two) paper finds 'the problem of the criterion' at the heart of disputes about what constitutes goodness in qualitative research, an ancient philosophic conundrum as to how best represent reality. Ways around the problem are considered, including conceiving criteria as open-ended 'lists', and 'enabling conditions'. Discussion principally concerns the impact of postmodernist thinking ...

Communication sounds or ‘social calls’ of 16 European bat species (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) were recorded at a range of roost and foraging sites. A comparative analysis of more than 5400 individual calls for general structures and for interas well as intraspecific variability resulted in 50 types of calls, which differed by their specific structure and by the calling species. These types c...

BACKGROUND Mixed methods or multimethod research holds potential for rigorous, methodologically sound investigations in primary care. The objective of this study was to use criteria from the literature to evaluate 5 mixed methods studies in primary care and to advance 3 models useful for designing such investigations. METHODS We first identified criteria from the social and behavioral science...

the multi-criteria decision making model is an important tool for decision making in water resource management. in this paper, the topsis model was used to rank seven flood management options in the gorganrood river flood management project, including conservation of natural condition, golestan reservoir management, levee construction, diversions-channel construction, flood forecasting and warn...

PURPOSE Computerized clinical decision support systems (CDSS) are an emerging means for improving healthcare safety, quality and efficiency, but meta-analyses findings are mixed. This meta-synthesis aggregates qualitative research findings as possible explanations for variable quantitative research outcomes. INCLUSION CRITERIA Qualitative studies published between 2000 and 2013 in English, in...

Throughout the history of walking robots several static and dynamic stability criteria have been defined. Nevertheless, different applications may require different stability criteria and, up to the authors’ best knowledge, there is no qualitative classification of such stability measurements. Controlling a robot gait by means of using the wrong stability criterion may prevent the task from suc...

Multi-criteria decision-making methods support decision makers in all stages of the decision-making process by providing useful data. However, criteria are not always certain as uncertainty is a feature of the real world. Multicriteria decision-making methods under uncertainty and fuzzy systems are accepted as suitable techniques in conflicting problems that cannot be represented by numerical v...

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate and select consulting firms by suggesting a centroid ranking approach based fuzzy multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) method, where ratings of alternatives versus qualitative criteria and the different importance weights among criteria are assessed in linguistic values represented by fuzzy numbers. Criteria are categorized to qualitative, benefit qu...