Title: Some results about rank reversal instances in the PROMETHEE methods

Authors: Céline Verly; Yves De Smet

Addresses: CoDE-SMG, Engineering Faculty, Université libre de Bruxelles, Boulevard du Triomphe CP 210-01, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium ' CoDE-SMG, Engineering Faculty, Université libre de Bruxelles, Boulevard du Triomphe CP 210-01, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium

Abstract: The multicriteria methods based on pairwise comparisons suffer from possible rank reversal occurrences when the set of alternatives is modified. We study this distinctive feature in the scope of the PROMETHEE I and II methods. First, empirical tests are conducted on the basis of artificial datasets in order to quantify the likelihood of rank reversal instances. Then conditions to avoid this phenomenon are provided. Finally, a comparison with a procedure based on a distillation process is performed.

Keywords: multicriteria decision aids; rank reversal; PROMETHEE methods; distillation process; multicriteria decision making; MCDM.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMCDM.2013.056781

International Journal of Multicriteria Decision Making, 2013 Vol.3 No.4, pp.325 - 345

Published online: 29 Jan 2014 *

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