Behavioral Studies for the Use of Visualization in Holistic Evaluation for Multicriteria Decision Problems Decision

Several behavioral studies have been performed related to MCDM/A (Multi-Criteria Decision Making/Aiding) methods, although not many of them aim directly to modulate (transform) those methods. Some of the studies intended to modulate methods provide suggestions to improve the FITradeoff decision process and the design of its Decision Support System (DSS). In this context, this paper presents behavioral study which has been constructed during the Covid-19 Pandemic and has been applied until now. These studies are concerned with the use of visualization in holistic evaluation for multicriteria decision problems decision using online survey to compare bar graphics and tables during the holistic evaluation Although these studies are contextualized for the FITradeoff Method, their results can be applied to any other methods in the context of MAVT (Multi-Attribute Value Theory), with additive aggregation. This study tested how DMs use bar graphics and tables to perform the holistic evaluation of alternatives. The experiment considers two types of visualizations: bar graphics and tables. Also, it uses two decision processes: the selection of the best alternative and the elimination of the worst alternative. In the past, DMs can only select the best alternative during the decision process in the FITradeoff DSS. However now, the elimination process is also included in the DSS, providing flexibility for Decision-Makers. As result, the experiment suggests that for some types of visualizations, the DMs performed better on the elimination process than the selection process. Moreover, results also showed that most of DMs prefer to select the best alternative than to eliminate the worst, even performing better in the elimination process. Hence, this result reinforces the flexibility provided in the DSS, but recommend another experiment using neuroscience tools, permitting to compare cognitive efforts during both decision process.