criterionset

Criterionset is a collection of criteria used to evaluate, compare, or constrain options within a process such as decision analysis, optimization, or regulatory assessment. The term denotes the formal set of rules or measures that govern how alternatives are judged. A criterionset provides the structure for applying criteria but is not itself a single criterion or a scoring rule.

A criterionset typically comprises criteria, each with an identifier, description, data type (quantitative or qualitative), measurement method, and sources. Optional attributes include weight or priority, threshold values, and whether a criterion is mandatory or optional. Aggregation rules define how individual criteria contribute to a composite score or decision, using methods such as weighted sums, lexicographic ordering, or constraint satisfaction.

Uses include multi-criteria decision analysis, where the set guides ranking of options; optimization and operations research, where criteria translate into objective functions and constraints; information retrieval or recommendation, where items are filtered by matching criteria; and compliance or risk assessment, where criteria enforce policy requirements.

Construction involves defining goals, stakeholder input, data availability, and domain knowledge. Documentation should record rationale, data sources, measurement rules, and how trade-offs are handled. Evaluation focuses on consistency, redundancy reduction, coverage of important factors, and sensitivity of outcomes to changes in weights or thresholds.