Approaching rank aggregation problems by using evolution strategies: The case of the optimal bucket order problem

作者：Aledo Juan A; Gamez Jose A^*; Rosete Alejandro

来源：European Journal of Operational Research, 2018, 270(3): 982-998.

DOI：10.1016/j.ejor.2018.04.031

• Combinatorial optimization
• Rank aggregation
• Optimal bucket order problem
• Weak order
• Evolution strategies
• Consensus ranking

The optimal bucket order problem consists in obtaining a complete consensus ranking (ties are allowed) from a matrix of preferences (possibly obtained from a database of rankings). In this paper, we tackle this problem by using (1 + lambda) evolution strategies. We designed specific mutation operators which are able to modify the inner structure of the buckets, which introduces more diversity into the search process. We also study different initialization methods and strategies for the generation of the population of descendants. The proposed evolution strategies are tested using a benchmark of 52 databases and compared with the current state-of-the-art algorithm LIA(G)(MP2). We carry out a standard machine learning statistical analysis procedure to identify a subset of outstanding configurations of the proposed evolution strategies. The study shows that the best evolution strategy improves upon the accuracy obtained by the standard greedy method (BPA) by 35%, and that of LIA(G)(MP2) by 12.5%.

• 出版日期2018-11-1