Design of Data Collection Form to Ensure Consistency in AHP

Abstract

One of the most popular methods of decision making in various fields is the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The problem of using AHP is the inconsistencies of matrices resulted from pairwise comparisons. This inconsistency has been studied for years. This paper explains the importance of the data collection form to ensure consistency in the use of AHP. We have proven that a proposed form can ensure data consistency in AHP. An interesting finding is that using an increasing number of criteria (more than three) will result in a decreased consistency ratio. This finding differs from the usual experience that a higher number of criteria will give the possibility of higher inconsistencies of matrices. The proposed form can also be used in any other techniques, such as Fuzzy-AHP, TOPSIS, Fuzzy-TOPSIS, that is based on pairwise.