Group analytic hierarchy process (ABP) for multigroup and multimode data

The present study proposes several advanced models of the group analytic hierarchy process (AHP) by structural equation modeling (SEM), following up on Toyoda, Yonemura, & Saito (2004), including a multigroup model that can compare parameters across different groups, a multimode model that can analyze effects of attribution like conjoint analysis, and a multigroup-multimode model that includes both the multigroup model and the multimode model. It is shown that commonly available computer programs for structural equation modeling, such as Mplus, can be used to estimate the parameters of these models. Important features of these methods are : (1) conjoint analysis can be combined with the analytic hierarchy process; (2) effects of attribution can be compared across different groups; and (3) interaction effects can be analyzed.