Distance education tool selection using novel spherical fuzzy AHP EDAS

Area of Science:

• Educational Technology
• Decision Sciences
• Fuzzy Set Theory

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a rapid shift to distance education in higher institutions.
• Existing evaluation methods for distance education tools lack comprehensive scientific rigor.
• Videoconferencing platforms became critical for maintaining educational continuity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel hybrid multi-criteria group decision-making (MCGDM) model for evaluating videoconferencing tools.
• To integrate Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Evaluation Based on Distance from Average Solution (EDAS) methodologies.
• To utilize spherical fuzzy (SF) sets for enhanced decision-making under uncertainty.

Main Methods:

• Development of a hybrid MCGDM model combining AHP and EDAS.
• Application of spherical fuzzy sets to handle imprecise membership, non-membership, and hesitancy degrees.
• Evaluation of five popular videoconferencing tools (Zoom, Google Meet, Cisco WebEx, Skype, Microsoft Teams) based on six main criteria and 32 sub-criteria.

Main Results:

• The proposed spherical fuzzy AHP-EDAS model successfully demonstrated its applicability in selecting a videoconferencing tool.
• The model provided a structured framework for decision-makers to evaluate complex options.
• Sensitivity and comparative analyses confirmed the robustness of the model's outcomes.

Conclusions:

• The hybrid spherical fuzzy AHP-EDAS model offers a scientifically sound and comprehensive approach for selecting distance education tools.
• This methodology enhances decision-making processes in higher education for technology adoption.
• Further research can explore extensions of this model for other educational technology evaluations.