EDSS TUTORIAL

If you have never used EDSS before, please take the time to go through this tutorial before you begin entering anything in to any of the databases.

We have set up an example exclusively for this tutorial that will allow you to see how EDSS organizes the information for you to view, and what a sample analysis can yield.

Last Updated: January 22, 1996 SGG

Note that if you're using Netscape 1.1n or later, a new browser window will open. This will allow you to read this tutorial while exploring EDSS in the other browser window.
Alternatively, you can get there by typing in the following URL: http://www.cs.orst.edu/~dambrosi/edss/tutorial.html

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This will take you to the form located lower on the page, which you will need to fill out to be granted access into EDSS.

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This will come in handy later if you decide to explore other databases. The table that appears gives the name of each database and a brief description of its purpose. Note that some databases have restricted use.

When you've finished looking at the Database Description, follow the link "Return to EDSS Web Prototype Page" which will take you back to the main page.

Now follow the "Check in" link again. You should now be back at the EDSS Entry Form.

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Type "Guest" into the field to the right of "First Name".
Next, skip over the "Last Name" field (make sure you don't put anything in, not even blank spaces!).
Choose the Demo database from the selection list, which will appear when you click on the raised selection list box.
Finally, click on the button "Start EDSS". If you made any mistakes, you can click on the button "Clear Entries" which will reset the form, and you can begin again.

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You may view a more detailed description of the issue by now clicking on the Show Description button. After you are done, follow the link "Return To Issues List" to come back to the Issues page.

This time, click on the Continue button, which will take you to the next stage.

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This page is used to select alternative criteria pairs and evaluate their feasibility for the current issue. An Alternative is a possible solution to an issue. Criteria are constraints to an issue. By pairing Alternatives and Criteria, the user can evaluate whether she/he thinks that a given Alternative can satisfy a specified criterion. This evaluation is captured by the selection of a Knowledge level (indicating the user's expertise) and a Confidence level (indicating how well a user believes that the alternative in question satisfies the criterion).

There are a couple of sections to this page.

1. The first line shows the current issue under consideration.
2. The next line gives the name of the current participant, in this case, Guest.
3. The next section contains the selection menus of all possible alternatives and criteria currently defined for the issue.
4. The first set of radio buttons below the menus selects the Knowledge level of the user - this marks her/his level of expertise for the current Alternative/Criteria pair that she/he is evaluating.
5. The second set of radio buttons selects the Confidence level of the user - how well she/he believes that the alternative in question satisfies the selected criterion.
6. The rationale box allows the user to enter comments that can be viewed later and helps in understanding the choice made.

7. The Accept Values button below the rationale box is clicked by the user once she/he is ready to enter the chosen Alternative/Criterion Pair information into the database. Note that the Guest account is restricted from entering any Alternative/Criterion Pairs into the database.
8. The Evaluate button is used to begin calculations of the satisfaction ratings. This will be discussed later in step 9.
9. There are several links following the separator line; each of these will be explored in the next few steps.

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The first two links - Add New Alternative and Add New Criteria - will take you to forms that allow a registered user to add their own alternatives or criteria to a particular issue. This form is very similar to the one that adds an issue - a user only need to provide 2 pieces of information - a brief name that will appear in the appropriate selection menu if accepted, and a more detailed description, which is very useful for others involved in the decision process to understand exactly what the author intended.

You may view these forms by following the links. When you are done on each form, you can follow the "Cancel" link back to this Evaluation Page.

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When you are done looking at this page, please return to the Evaluation Page by following the Cancel... link.

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Now click on the selection menu to open up the list of users and choose the user "Jane Tester". Once that name appears in the box, click on the Show Summary Button. This will open up a new window (if you are using Netscape 1.1n or greater) and show the summary table for Jane Tester. Note that several of the table cells are filled in. You can quickly focus on the AC pairs that have been entered by looking for the blue check marks.

Feel free to view the summaries for the other users. All you need to do to do this is select a different user back on the other page (no need to close this page, but don't iconify it), and click the button again.

When you've finished viewing summaries, use the File menu at the top of your browser and close the window titled "Other Participant Summaries". Next use the "Go Back..." link on the window titled "EDSS-Summary" which will take you back to the Evaluation Page.

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Click on this icon now to go to the General Options Page. This will open a new browser window so you won't lose your place in EDSS in the window you were just in.

This page is fairly self-explanatory. Select a database, then click on one of the buttons to either view all the registered users in that database (choose View All Participants) or to show all the issues in a particular database (choose List All Issues).When you are done, use File-Close from the browser menu to get rid of the new window.

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The page that will appear shows a table listing the alternatives on each row. There are two columns:
1) Personal Sat, which shows the results of what the current participant's ratings are.(This is based on the Knowledge and Confidence levels entered for Alternative/Criterion pairs with each criterion is weighted with values entered by the user).
2) Overall Sat, which takes input entered by ALL of the users in the database and calculates what the group satisfaction rating is for each alternative.

In examining these tables, note that based on the values of the Alternative/Criterion pairs for Guest, the alternative listing "New Orleans" comes out the most favored (but not by much). In the Overall Sat column, note however that "Santa Fe" is the group favorite. By comparing satisfaction ratings and reviewing participant summaries, you can get a good idea of which alternatives are more favored by the group and by each person.

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Prof. Bruce D'Ambrosio: dambrosi@research.cs.orst.edu
Shikha Ghosh Gottfried: gottfrsh@research.cs.orst.edu

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