title: A comparison of representations for discrete multi-criteria decision problems.
abstract: Discrete multi-criteria decision problems with numerous Pareto-efficient solution candidates place a significant cognitive burden on the decision maker. An interactive, aspiration-based search process that iteratively progresses toward the most preferred solution can alleviate this task. In this paper, we study three ways of representing such problems in a DSS, and compare them in a laboratory experiment using subjective and objective measures of the decision process as well as solution quality and problem understanding. In addition to an immediate user evaluation, we performed a re-evaluation several weeks later. Furthermore, we consider several levels of problem complexity and user characteristics. Results indicate that different problem representations have a considerable influence on search behavior, although long-term consistency appears to remain unaffected. We also found interesting discrepancies between subjective evaluations and objective measures. Conclusions from our experiments can help designers of DSS for large multi-criteria decision problems to fit problem representations to the goals of their system and the specific task at hand.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Interorganisational Management and Performance, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gettinger
authors.affiliation: Institute of Software Technology and Interactive Systems, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Elmar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kiesling
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stummer
authors.affiliation: Department of Business Administration, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vetschera
keywords: Heatmaps; Multi-criteria decision analysis; Parallel coordinates; Visualization