A Novel N-Cubic Fuzzy DEMATEL Approach for Analyzing Causal Relationships in the Decision to Continue Studying in a Model School for the Elderly

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.28924/2291-8639-24-2026-121
Published: Apr 20, 2026
Cite as:
Non Sanprasit, Ratchadaporn Sanprasit, Pannawit Khamrot, Natthinee Deetae, A Novel N-Cubic Fuzzy DEMATEL Approach for Analyzing Causal Relationships in the Decision to Continue Studying in a Model School for the Elderly, Int. J. Anal. Appl., 24 (2026), 121.

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Non Sanprasit, Ratchadaporn Sanprasit, Pannawit Khamrot, Natthinee Deetae

Abstract

This study presents a new analytical framework that combines the N-Cubic Fuzzy approach with the DEMATEL technique to examine how different factors interact to shape the decision to continue studying in a model school for the elderly in senior schools across Thailand. Unlike conventional fuzzy structures, the N-Cubic Fuzzy Set (NCFS) provides a flexible way to describe uncertainty, bringing together membership and non-membership ranges along with central tendencies and degrees of hesitation within a single model. This richer representation helps capture how human judgments vary under complex and ambiguous situations. To explore the main determinants of evaluation, a 27-item assessment was designed that covers four key aspects—personal, social, learning, and environmental. Each item was rated by a group of experts, and their linguistic evaluations were converted into NCFS values. The analysis applied a six-level influence scale, and the responses were combined through the N-Cubic Weighted Arithmetic Mean (NCFWAM). From this, a score matrix was obtained and adjusted using a tailored scoring function for NCFS, followed by a normalization step and the development of a total-relation matrix. Indices of prominence and relation were then computed to identify which factors exert the strongest causal effects. The findings indicate that the learning setting and social participation serve primarily as causal elements, whereas psychological well-being and daily functioning tend to be affected by them. Overall, the proposed NCFS-DEMATEL framework offers a practical means for analyzing multi-expert judgments in uncertain environments and provides insights that can inform policy design and enhance elderly care programs in real contexts. This study is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education), highlighting lifelong learning and the importance of an appropriate learning environment for the elderly.

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