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An overview of probabilistic-based expressions for qualitative decision-making: techniques, comparisons and developments

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Abstract

The rapid development of science and technology brings the complexity and difficulty in decision-making. As a comprehensive tool for information expression, the probabilistic-based expressions can denote the complex information by considering the hesitancy and the accuracy at the same time. Because of the flexibility for expression, the related researches of the probabilistic-based expressions develop at a high rate of speed even though they are not systematical and mature enough. In this paper, we introduce the existing concepts of the probabilistic-based expressions and deeply analyze their developments and compare their similarities and differences. Each kind of concept has its own advantages and limitations, and can be applied for different decision-making environments. Besides, we investigate the research status of the techniques of the probabilistic-based expressions since they are the basis for most decision-making methods. For now, the existing decision-making methods for probabilistic-based expressions can be divided into the multi-attribute decision-making methods and the dynamic decision-making methods. It is worthy to point out that there are still a lot of severe challenges in the development process of probabilistic-based expressions, but their theoretical and applied value deserves to be paid much attention.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (nos. 71571123, 71771155).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Business School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China

    Zeshui Xu & Yue He

  2. School of Computer and Software, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210044, Jiangsu, China

    Zeshui Xu

  3. College of Computer Science and Software Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China

    Xizhao Wang

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  1. Zeshui Xu
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Correspondence to Zeshui Xu.

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Xu, Z., He, Y. & Wang, X. An overview of probabilistic-based expressions for qualitative decision-making: techniques, comparisons and developments. Int. J. Mach. Learn. & Cyber. 10, 1513–1528 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13042-018-0830-9

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