A Comprehensive Bibliometric Analysis of Objective Weighting Methods in Multi-Criterion Decision-Making

Emre Kadir Özekenci; Kübra Topcuoglu Onat; Dragan Pamucar

doi:10.31181/msa31202645

Authors

Emre Kadir Özekenci Department of International Trade and Logistics, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Cag University, Mersin, Türkiye Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6669-0006
Kübra Topcuoglu Onat Department of International Trade and Logistics, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Cag University, Mersin, Türkiye Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8702-9954
Dragan Pamucar 1) Department of Applied Mathematical Science, College of Science and Technology, Korea University, Sejong, Republic of Korea; 2) Industrial Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, İstinye University, İstanbul, Türkiye; 3) School of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University, Selangor, Malaysia Author https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9876-0328

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31181/msa31202645

Keywords:

MCDM, Objective weighting methods, WoS, Bibliometrics

Abstract

Objective weighting methods have gained significant importance in the field of Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) due to their ability to determine criterion importance based on data-driven characteristics, thereby minimizing subjective bias. This study aims to examine the evolution, intellectual structure, and global research trends of objective weighting methods by conducting a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 23,684 publications in the Web of Science (WoS) database from 1990 to 2025. The findings show significant and accelerating growth in scientific output, particularly after 2017, along with a rapid expansion of research interest in this area. Keyword analysis identified the Entropy method as the most dominant and frequently used approach, with 1,712 occurrences, significantly outperforming other methods. Co-authorship analysis reveals that China leads in both publication output (8,711 documents) and citation impact (127,032 citations), while the United States demonstrates the highest level of international connectivity, occupying a central position in global collaboration networks. At the institutional level, the Chinese Academy of Sciences stands out as the most influential organization. Citation analysis also highlights De Boer et al. (2005) pioneering work as the most cited publication in the field. Journal and publisher analysis shows that IEEE Access is the leading journal in terms of publication volume, while MDPI is the most prolific publisher. Furthermore, the results demonstrate a strong correlation between objective weighting studies and sustainability-focused topics, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action), followed by Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 11. Overall, this study provides a structured and comprehensive overview of the global research landscape of objective weighting methods in the field of MCDM, offering valuable insights for future research directions and methodological advancements.

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