Maximum Entropy-Minimum Residual Model: An Optimum Solution to Comprehensive Evaluation and Multiple Attribute Decision Making

Bibliographic Details
Title: Maximum Entropy-Minimum Residual Model: An Optimum Solution to Comprehensive Evaluation and Multiple Attribute Decision Making
Authors: Qi-Yi Tang, Yu-Xuan Lin
Source: Entropy, Vol 27, Iss 2, p 203 (2025)
Publisher Information: MDPI AG, 2025.
Publication Year: 2025
Collection: LCC:Science
LCC:Astrophysics
LCC:Physics
Subject Terms: composite indicator, comprehensive evaluation, entropy, multiple attribute decision making, Science, Astrophysics, QB460-466, Physics, QC1-999
More Details: To assess a subject with multiple factors or attributes, a comprehensive evaluation index, or say a composite indicator, is often constructed to make a holistic judgement. The key problem is to assign weights to the factors. There are various weighting methods in the literature, but a gold standard is lacking. Some weighting methods may lead to a trivial weight assignment that is one factor having a weight equal to 1 and the others all zero, while some methods generate a solution contradicting intuitive judgement, or even infeasible to calculate. This paper proposes a new model to generate weights based on the maximum entropy-minimum residual (MEMR) principle, directly estimating the relationship between factor weights and the composite indicator. The MEMR composite indicator extracts the common feature of multiple factors while preserving their diversity. This paper compares the MEMR model with other commonly used weighting methods in various case studies. The MEMR model has more robust, consistent, and interpretable results than others and is suitable for all comprehensive evaluation cases involving quantitative factors. The optimization technique of the proposed MEMR model and the related statistical tests are included as a package in the DPS (data processing system) software V21.05 for the convenience of application in all fields.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 1099-4300
Relation: https://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/27/2/203; https://doaj.org/toc/1099-4300
DOI: 10.3390/e27020203
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/51888a3b06a849d19ecf8002603080c1
Accession Number: edsdoj.51888a3b06a849d19ecf8002603080c1
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
Full text is not displayed to guests.
More Details
ISSN:10994300
DOI:10.3390/e27020203
Published in:Entropy
Language:English