Table 2 Scales of importance for use in a pairwise comparison
Level of importance on an absolute scale | Definition | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
1 | Equal importance | Two activities contribute equally to the objective |
3 | Moderate importance of one over another | Experience and judgment favor one activity over another |
5 | Essential or strong importance | Experience and judgment strongly favor one activity over another |
7 | Very strong importance | An activity is strongly favored and its dominance is demonstrated in practice |
9 | Extreme importance | The evidence favoring one activity over another is of the highest possible order of affirmation |
2, 4, 6, 8 | Intermediate values between the two adjacent judgments | The scores used when compromise is needed |