Operations Research and the Public Sector.

Abstract

This chapter describes various approaches for the paired comparison. There are two different approaches to determine rankings for paired comparison: (1) deterministic combinatorial approaches; and (2) approaches that pose some type of probability model of the competition and then determine rankings based on the schedule, results, and model so posed. The chapter describes the deterministic combinatorial methods and the methods based on probability models. The Kendall–Wei method for determining rankings based on paired comparisons is also discussed. The probabilities are determined by making a set of assumptions (different assumptions are made for different methods) and then calculating values for these probabilities that are consistent with these assumptions and with the game results in question. Some characteristics concerning general applicability with emphasis on combat analyses are also discussed.