A framework to select multi criteria decision making (MCDM) methods for either ranking or choosing problem

Determining the correct tool to perform decision analysis in multi-criteria decision analysis is an important topic. There are numerous methods that can solve a problem in decision science. Practitioners cannot foresee which of these methods they will use, which can produce different results on the same problem. In this study, it is proposed a problem-specific method selection framework in terms of decomposition level, statistical sensitivity, classical sensitivity, and rank reversal for objective decision-making. A total of seventy two hybrid multi criteria decision making methods were used in the study including six objective criteria weighting methods and twelve alternative evaluation techniques. Analysis was carried out through a demonstration example and a real-life application of the ranking problem of the European Union member states in terms of the Economic Freedom Index. It was observed that the framework could make an effective and fathomable evaluation.