Accession Number:

AD0753803

Title:

Concepts of Independence in Multiattribute Utility Theory.

Descriptive Note:

Technical rept.,

Corporate Author:

MASSACHUSETTS INST OF TECH CAMBRIDGE OPERATIONS RESEARCH CENTER

Personal Author(s):

• Keeney,Ralph L.

Report Date:

1972-10-01

Pagination or Media Count:

23.0

Abstract:

The paper surveys and relates various sets of independence properties which have been investigated in multiattribute utility theory. Three types of independence conditions are covered value independence, utility independence, and preferential independence. Such conditions, which concern the decision makers preferences between specified consequences or lotteries, place restrictions on the functional forms of the utility functions ux1,x2,...,xn. These usually involve weighted sums and products of utility functions over subsets of the complete set of attributes. Thus, given a specific problem, if independence conditions are verified, the assessment of the utility function can be simplified. The functional forms implied by various sets of independence properties are presented, and methods to assess the resulting utility functions are discussed. Author

Descriptors:

• (*GAME THEORY
• *DECISION MAKING)
• MATHEMATICAL MODELS
• PROBABILITY DENSITY FUNCTIONS
• SET THEORY

Subject Categories:

• Operations Research

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE