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Open research questions in Multi-Criteria Decision Making

52 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 1,368 Multi-Criteria Decision Making papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • Finally, future research may explore hybrid BDPM architectures, combining the method with alternative distance measures or machine learning techniques to further improve its discrimination capability and predictive performance.

    A Distribution-Based Next-Generation Multi-Criteria Performance Measurement Method: Bhattacharyya Distance Performance Measurement (BDPM) · 2026 · DOI

  • Future studies should consider conducting comparative analyses using alternative sets of criteria and different uncertainty modeling methods to contribute to the development of sustainable and efficient agricultural irrigation policies. It should also be noted that this study is limited to the selection and ranking of five alternative irrigation systems under six independent, non-interacting criteria to demonstrate the applicability of the employed methods.

    Efficiency Analysis of Agricultural Irrigation Systems Using the Interval Type-2 Fuzzy TOPSIS Approach · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research could explore more sophisticated implementations beyond the naïve Monte Carlo-based procedure employed in this research. Although the current study does not intend to establish a formal methodology for applying ExpTODIM as an inductive reasoning model, the results highlight its potential and suggest that further methodological refinement is warranted.

    The Potential of Prospect Theory under Inductive Reasoning · 2026 · DOI

  • the method version of Since the proposed framework was calibrated and demonstrated using a relatively small case study, the generalizability of the findings should be examined on larger and more diverse datasets, additional MCDM comparison methods, sensitivity analysis, and dynamic applications in which the synthetic profile could be updated in real time.

    Development of an Adaptive Multi-Criteria Optimization Framework Using the PSI Method: Validation via Thermal Insulation Selection · 2026 · DOI

  • Conclusions UDHLTSs effectively represent the nonlinearity, hesitation, and uncertainty inherent in decision-makers’ subjective preferences. When integrated with q-ROFSs, these linguis- tic constructs form a probabilistic uncertain intuitionistic linguistic framework—PUIL q-ROFSs—that substantially enhances problem-solving capabilities in real-world scenar- ios characterized by ambiguity, imprecision, and incomplete information. This integrated approach, which incorporates probabilistic and interval-based representations, yields a more comprehensive and versatile structural framework for complex decision analysis. Building upon this foundation, PUIL q-ROFSs offer distinctive advantages in representing expert preferences through interval UDHLTSs within the q-ROFS framework. Our study establishes the fundamental theoretical constructs of PUIL q-ROFSs, including operational rules, comparison mechanisms, and distance measures. The proposed VIKOR- based decision-making method employs entropy measures for criterion weight determination. It implements a dual conversion strategy: initially transforming UDHLTSs into numerical values, followed by a secondary conversion of probability interval linguistic q-rung orthopair fuzzy sets using a specialized score function. Although the validation focuses on curriculum evalu- ation, the methodological framework demonstrates sub- stantial potential for broader application. In intelligent manufacturing systems, it could optimize supplier selec- tion and production processes under uncertainty. Within healthcare decision-making, the approach could enhance medical diagnosis and treatment planning through improved handling of experts’ inherently hesitant linguistic assess- ments. For environmental management, the method offers robust capabilities for sustainability evaluation and impact analysis using probabilistic linguistic information. This extensive applicability highlights the proposed approach’s versatility and practical utility.

    Enhancing VIKOR for MAGDM with PUIL q-ROFSs: Addressing Ambiguity and Uncertainty in Decision-Making · 2026 · DOI

  • Several limitations warrant consideration in future applications. The computational complexity of multiple conversion steps and mathematical operations may present challenges in large-scale decision scenarios with numerous alternatives and criteria. Additionally, the method demonstrates sensitivity to parameter selection, particularly the q-rung value and VIKOR balancing coefficient—requiring careful calibration to ensure result stability. Practical implementation may also face constraints related to data requirements and practitioner familiarity with the underlying mathematical concepts. Future research will explore three primary directions: (1) extending the framework to other MAGDM methodologies, 1 3Cognitive Computation (2026) 18:52 including CODAS, ELECTRE, and PROMETHEE adapted for PUIL q-ROFSs; (2) developing additional aggregation criteria for risk assessment in fuzzy environments; and (3) validating the model’s effectiveness through cross-domain applications in supply chain management, renewable energy resource assessment, and related fields. These initiatives aim to broaden both the scope and practical utility of the developed methodologies in addressing complex decisionmaking challenges. wtAt = Page 25 of 30 52 (1 − − (µAt)q)wt)1/q, 1 (1 − − ] pAt)wt,) (µAt)q)wt 1/q, (1 (1 1 − − ⟨([( (νAt)wt, (νAt)wt ([ ]), (qAt)wt.)⟩ Let Bt = wtAt. For simplicity of derivation, we note the components: (µB1)q = 1 (µB2)q = 1 − − (1 (1 (µA1)q)w1, (µA2)q)w2, (µB1)q = 1 (µB2)q = 1 (1 − − (µA1)q)w1, (µA2)q)w2, − − νB1 = (νA1)w1, νB2 = (νA2)w2, νB1 = (νA1)w1, νB2 = (νA2)w2, − − (1 qB1 = (qA1)w1, qB2 = (qA2)w2.

    Enhancing VIKOR for MAGDM with PUIL q-ROFSs: Addressing Ambiguity and Uncertainty in Decision-Making · 2026 · DOI

  • The paper identifies C₂ as the lowest-weight criterion (0.0918) but provides no clinical rationale for why this factor contributes minimally to risk assessment in extremely risky comorbid diabetes during pregnancy; comparative analysis against established clinical scoring systems (e.g., glucose management protocols, pre-eclampsia risk indices) for pregnant diabetic patients is missing.

    A Bipolar Fuzzy Credibility Decision-Making Technique for Evaluating Pregnant Women With Extremely Risky Comorbid Diabetes · 2026 · DOI

  • The criterion weights for the bipolar fuzzy credibility model were derived from an unspecified number of expert evaluations; sensitivity analysis showing how variations in expert consensus thresholds or fuzzy membership function definitions affect the ranking order (E₂>E₃>E₁) for pregnant women with extremely risky comorbid diabetes is absent.

    A Bipolar Fuzzy Credibility Decision-Making Technique for Evaluating Pregnant Women With Extremely Risky Comorbid Diabetes · 2026 · DOI

  • The weighted accuracy matrix (Table 4) shows E₁ achieves highest accuracy (0.805572) yet lowest aggregated score (-0.162808) in the bipolar fuzzy framework; the paper does not investigate or explain this contradiction between credibility-adjusted decision scores and measurement consistency in pregnant women with extremely risky comorbid diabetes.

    A Bipolar Fuzzy Credibility Decision-Making Technique for Evaluating Pregnant Women With Extremely Risky Comorbid Diabetes · 2026 · DOI

  • The paper does not specify the clinical definitions or measurement methods for the four evaluation criteria (C₁, C₂, C₃, C₄), which are inferred to represent blood glucose control, insulin response, and blood pressure stability; explicit mapping between fuzzy linguistic variables and specific physiological thresholds for pregnant women with comorbid diabetes is required.

    A Bipolar Fuzzy Credibility Decision-Making Technique for Evaluating Pregnant Women With Extremely Risky Comorbid Diabetes · 2026 · DOI

  • The bipolar fuzzy credibility decision-making framework was applied only to three pregnant women (E₁, E₂, E₃) with extremely risky comorbid diabetes; validation on larger cohorts with diverse diabetes severity levels and geographic populations is needed to establish generalizability of the criterion weights (C₁=0.4046, C₃=0.3085) across different clinical settings.

    A Bipolar Fuzzy Credibility Decision-Making Technique for Evaluating Pregnant Women With Extremely Risky Comorbid Diabetes · 2026 · DOI

  • The choice of specific intuitionistic fuzzy Z-number scale parameters (e.g., the membership and non-membership interval ranges used: (0.0, 0.9) and related bounds) lacks justification and calibration with actual environmental pollution measurement standards or thresholds for real pollutants.

    Assessing Environmental Pollution: Quality Control Using CRITIC-WASPAS Methods under Intuitionistic Fuzzy Z-Numbers · 2026 · DOI

  • The paper applies CRITIC-WASPAS and CRITIC-EDAS methods to environmental pollution assessment but does not establish how the results from these two approaches (which yielded different rankings in Table 14) should be reconciled or integrated for practical environmental quality control decision-making.

    Assessing Environmental Pollution: Quality Control Using CRITIC-WASPAS Methods under Intuitionistic Fuzzy Z-Numbers · 2026 · DOI

  • No sensitivity analysis was performed to determine how variations in the intuitionistic fuzzy Z-number membership and non-membership values (particularly the Z-number parameters) affect the final ranking of pollution alternatives (Pτ1-Pτ6) or the stability of CRITIC weights.

    Assessing Environmental Pollution: Quality Control Using CRITIC-WASPAS Methods under Intuitionistic Fuzzy Z-Numbers · 2026 · DOI

  • The correlation coefficients and standard deviations computed in the CRITIC method (Tables 10-11) for environmental pollution criteria were derived from only three decision makers; the robustness of criteria weighting under different numbers of experts and varying levels of expert disagreement in pollution assessment has not been investigated.

    Assessing Environmental Pollution: Quality Control Using CRITIC-WASPAS Methods under Intuitionistic Fuzzy Z-Numbers · 2026 · DOI

  • The aggregation operators (IFWA) used to combine expert judgments in the intuitionistic fuzzy Z-number framework were not compared against alternative aggregation methods (such as IFWG or Choquet integral operators); comparative analysis of different aggregation strategies' impact on environmental pollution quality control rankings is absent.

    Assessing Environmental Pollution: Quality Control Using CRITIC-WASPAS Methods under Intuitionistic Fuzzy Z-Numbers · 2026 · DOI

  • The CRITIC-WASPAS and CRITIC-EDAS methods for environmental pollution assessment were applied only to a single case study with six alternatives (Pτ1-Pτ6) and five criteria (Qγ1-Qγ5); validation across multiple real-world environmental pollution datasets with varying numbers of pollution sources, geographic regions, and temporal scales is needed to establish the generalizability of the intuitionistic fuzzy Z-number approach.

    Assessing Environmental Pollution: Quality Control Using CRITIC-WASPAS Methods under Intuitionistic Fuzzy Z-Numbers · 2026 · DOI

  • Supply chain management is inherently complex and involves a hierarchy of criteria, subcriteria, and alternatives. To survive in today’s fiercely competitive and rapidly changing market, handling such complexity requires a sophisticated methodology. Modern MCDM methods such as the AHP, BWM, and techniques based on Entropy provide a scientific means of managing complex decisions in supply chain contexts by simultaneously considering several conflicting criteria. The approach used guarantees the effectiveness of the decisions made. Management of the supply chain using MCDM basically comes down to selecting the criteria, sub-criteria, and alternatives that are the most relevant. Therefore, the main aim of the suggested method is to present a systematic way of dealing with the complexities of the supply chain. The study serves as a reference to supplier selection literature which not only extends the classic dimensions (cost, quality, and delivery) but explores fairly new ones like environmental sensitivity and digital transformation initiatives. This feature is heavily influenced by the top supply chain issues as well as the needs for sustainability and technological advancement. Supply chain executives to change their supplier evaluation approaches based on the results of this research to be consistent with corporate objectives and the preferences of the decision-maker. Decision-making can be greatly enhanced through evaluation by using a mix of decisionmaking and data-driven approaches.

    A HYBRID AHP-BWM-ENTROPY FRAMEWORK FOR IDEAL SUPPLIER SELECTION · 2026 · DOI

  • Future work will focus on applying these new generalizations to various real-world prob- lems to further validate their effectiveness. , based on copulas, fuzzy implications, or dissimilarity functions), offer unique characteristics not explored by the CT -integral proposed in this study.

    Performance impact of using $$C_T$$-integrals in the fuzzy reasoning method of a classification system · 2026 · DOI

  • However, one limitation of the AHP method is that it constrains the number of criteria that can be meaningfully weighted to typically seven to nine criteria.

    Assessing the Number of Criteria in <scp>GIS</scp>‐Based Multicriteria Evaluation: A Machine Learning Approach · 2025 · DOI

  • Originality/value The paper contributes to the very limited research on the implementation of LSS in the oil and gas industry, and, in addition, it suggests the usage of SWARA, a permutation method and a GA, which have not yet been researched, for the prioritisation of CSFs of LSS.

    A hybrid model for ranking critical successful factors of Lean Six Sigma in the oil and gas industry · 2021 · DOI

  • The well-known characteristic of PHFS is that the sum of the maximum of the membership, abstinence, and non-membership degree is limited to the unit interval.

    Picture Hesitant Fuzzy Clustering Based on Generalized Picture Hesitant Fuzzy Distance Measures · 2021 · DOI

  • Originality/value Many researches related to supplier evaluation are reported in literature, but few studies are available related to supplier performance evaluation for lithium ion batteries using QFD, AHP and TOPSIS.

    Supplier selection using hybrid multicriteria decision-making methods · 2020 · DOI

  • Nowadays research on bicycling and interest in related topics is dramatically increasing, but while researchers focus on modern technologies and collecting data from portable devices, there are quite a few studies on the effectiveness of investments in bicycle infrastructure, and even less discussed is a question how to set the priorities for construction works of the bicycle path network.

    SETTING PRIORITY LIST FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKS OF BICYCLE PATH SEGMENTS BASED ON ECKENRODE RATING AND ARAS-F DECISION SUPPORT METHOD INTEGRATED IN GIS · 2020 · DOI

  • The problem pertaining to selection of construction sites for the LNG terminal should be investigated and solved using the set of multiple conflicting criteria.

    SELECTING A LOCATION FOR A LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS TERMINAL IN THE EASTERN BALTIC SEA · 2014 · DOI

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52 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 1,368 Multi-Criteria Decision Making papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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