Social index construction method based on consistent aggregation operator families

Abstract

It is common to find index constructio methods based on crisp techniques and linear models. However, these procedures are not always adequate to capture the essential model of an index. Index development can be approached as a nested or hierarchical aggregation process, where part of the data can have a different level of importance, and the other part can be unstructured. In addition, the information can be studied under a fuzzy approach. This paper proposes an index construction method using the notion of consistency in aggregation operator families to ensure robustness, in addition to considering a hierarchical structure with different level of importance of input information. Two applications are presented, a measure of social and advanced uses of the Internet considering attitudinal, demographic, social and technological factors, and a measure of the child’s family environment considering different aspects.