ON THE RELATIONSHIP OF METHODS OF AGGREGATING EVIDENCE IN EXPERT SYSTEMS

Abstract We show how Shafer's concepts of plausibility and belief can be derived as a special case of the compatibility of a linguistically quantified statement with a data base consisting of an expert's fragmented opinion as to the location of a special element. We also show that probability is the compatibility of a linguistically quantified statement about truth with this data base. Based upon these ideas we provide some alternative methods to Dempster's rule for combining evidence.