A Study on DEMATEL Approach Under Uncertainty Environments

A fuzzy set is a mathematical construct that assigns a membership grade to each element within a universe of discourse, representing the degree to which the element belongs to the set. This approach extends classical binary logic by allowing continuous values between 0 and 1, making it a natural framework for handling uncertainties and vague concepts often expressed in natural language. Fuzzy sets are particularly powerful in modelling real-world scenarios where ambiguity and imprecision are inherent, such as in human decision-making, linguistic expressions, and complex systems. This paper introduces a novel application of fuzzy logic by proposing a fuzzy Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method. DEMATEL is a well-established technique used to analyse cause-and-effect relationships within complex systems. Still, its traditional form relies on crisp values, which may not adequately capture the inherent uncertainties in real-world data. Our proposed method integrates triangular fuzzy numbers into the DEMATEL framework, enabling the representation and analysis of data with imprecision and vagueness. Specifically, we apply the fuzzy DEMATEL approach to study the cause-and-effect relationships among factors affecting transgender individuals, a population often marginalized and underrepresented in research. By leveraging triangular fuzzy numbers, our method provides a more nuanced and realistic representation of the uncertainties and complexities in the data. This approach not only enhances the accuracy of the analysis but also offers a meaningful way to interpret vague or subjective information, ultimately contributing to more informed decision-making and policy development for transgender communities.