Clustering-based method for large group decision making with hesitant fuzzy linguistic information: Integrating correlation and consensus.

Aiming at the large-scale experts and the lower consensus in large group decision making, a novel clustering-based method integrating correlation and consensus of hesitant fuzzy linguistic information is proposed. Firstly, develop a new hesitant degree function for hesitant fuzzy linguistic element considering its scale. Secondly, put forward the correlation measure and consensus measure models combining the hesitant degree. And then present a clustering method integrating the correlation and consensus to divide the large-scale experts into several clusters. The clustering method simultaneously ensures the cohesion of clusters and the gradual increasing of the collective consensus level. After clustering, activate the selection process to update the weights of clusters combining the number of experts in clusters and the consensus level of clusters and use the score function considering the hesitant degree to rank the alternatives. Finally, a case and some comparisons are studied and analyzed to verify the rationality and effectiveness of the method.