An approach to multiple attribute group decision making based on linguistic intuitionistic fuzzy numbers

Motivated by intuitionistic fuzzy sets and fzzy linguistic approach, this article proposes the concept of linguistic intuitionistic fuzzy numbers (LIFNs) where membership and and nonmembership are represented as linguistic terms. In order to process the multiple attribute decision making (MADM) with LIFNs, we introduce the linguistic score index and linguistic accuracy index of the LIFN. Simultaneously, the operation laws for LIFNs are defined and the related properties of the operation laws are studied. Further, some aggregation operators are developed, involving the linguistic intuitionistic fuzzy weighted averaging (LIFWA) operator, linguistic intuitionistic fuzzy ordered weighted averaging (LIFOWA) operator and linguistic intuitionistic fuzzy hybrid averaging (LIFHA) operator, etc., which can be utilized to aggregate preference information taking the form of LIFNs. Based on the LIFWA and the LIFHA operators, we propose an approach to handle MADM under LIFNs environment. Finally, an illustrative example is given to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method, which are then compared to other representative methods.