An argumentation-based approach to multiple criteria decision

Abstract

The paper presents a first tentative work that investigates the interest and the questions raised by the introduction of argumentation capabilities in multiple criteria decision-making. Emphasizing the positive and the negative aspects of possible choices, by means of arguments in favor or against them is valuable to the user of a decision-support system. In agreement with the symbolic character of arguments, the proposed approach remains qualitative in nature and uses a bipolar scale for the assessment of criteria. The paper formalises a multicriteria decision problem within a logical argumentation system. An illustrative example is provided. Various decision principles are considered, whose psychological validity is assessed by an experimental study. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005.