One-dimensional preference data imputation through transition rules

Abstract

Preferences may be elicited with methods based either on pair comparison between items or ordering/sorting one or more items out of the given set. In both cases, the multivariate analysis of preferences requires that preferability is expressed for all pairs of items, so that an irreducible dominance matrix can be defined and mathematically processed. In this paper we present, apply and evaluate a new transition rule for the estimation of empty cells of a dominance matrix. The method was applied to preference data on students' guidance services. The new methodology showed to be more reliable than other methods in the literature. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011.