DECISION MAKING WITH CONSONANT BELIEF FUNCTIONS: DISCREPANCY RESULTING WITH THE PROBABILITY TRANSFORMATION METHOD USED

Dempster-Shaferbelief function theory can address a wider class of uncertainty than thestandard probability theory does and this fact appeals the researchers inoperations research society for potential application areas. For representationof statistical evidence, the class of consonant belief functions is used whichis not closed under Dempster's rule of combination but is closed with Walley'srule of combination. In this research, it’s shown that although the outcomesobtained using Dempster’s and Walley’s rule do result in the same probabilitydistribution when plausibility transformation is performed, they do result indifferent probability distributions when pignistic transformation is used whichin turn may have a significant effect on decision making, on the choice of thedecision alternative selected.  Thisresult is illustrated via an example of missile type identification.