Distortions introduced by normalisation of values of criteria in multiple criteria methods of evaluation

Abstract

Quantitative multiple criteria decision aid (MCDA) methods of evaluation gain increasing popularity among researchers. The idea of the methods is to comprise values ofcriteria characterising each object into a single non-dimensional cumulative criterion, which reflects attractiveness or position of the object in view of an objective chosen. Normalisation of weights is a compulsory procedure whenever criteria of different dimensions are present. There several methods of normalisation available. Nevertheless, each method may introduce distortions into transformed data. The paper is devoted to exploration of problems related to such distortions and reveals particular cases.