[Sample B: Approval/Signature Sheet] - George Mason University

The natural attributes (see table 1) usually are the ones that have a common
interpretation to everyone and are obviously related to the objectives being measured:
Table 1. Example of a Natural Attribute.
Objective Attribute
Minimize time Time measured in minutes
The constructed attributes are used as alternatives when the natural attributes do
not exist or cannot be determined. This kind of attributes are developed specifically for a
given decision context (see table 2).
Table 2. Example of a Constructed Attribute. 48
Attribute
Description of attribute level
level
0 No loss of productive wetlands or rare species habitat
1 Loss of 320 acres of productive wetlands and no loss of rare species habitat.
2 Loss of 640 acres of productive wetlands and no loss of rare species habitat or loss
of 30 acres of rare species habitat and no loss of productive wetlands.
3 No loss of productive wetlands and loss of 50 acres of rare species habitat.
4 Loss of 640 acres of productive wetlands and loss of 40 acres of rare species habitat.
5 Loss of 640 acres of productive wetlands and loss of 50 acres of rare species habitat.
Finally, the proxy attributes are used when it is difficult to identify either a natural
attribute or a constructed attribute and it is necessary to use an indirect measure. Keeney
defines a proxy attribute as ―one that reflects the degree to which an associated objective
48 Ibid., 107.
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