Analyzing the Main Determinants for Being an Immigrant in Cuenca (Ecuador) Based on a Fuzzy Clustering Approach

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Dear authors, paper is very potential and actual but solving methodology is little beat confusing for readers who are not so much familiar with it. I think that every paper beside scientific contribution must have educational component as weel. For that purpose I gave some suggestions.

 

Suggestions to authors.

 

1. Actual title: Main determinants to be an immigrant in Cuenca (Ecuador). A fuzzy clustering approach

Should be: Estimation of main determinants to be an immigrant in Cuenca (Ecuador) based on a fuzzy clustering approach

Discussion: It is not usual to have two sentences in the title. I proposed title but I do not insist to be accepted by authors. I suggest title to be corrected by authors.

 

2. Actual order of keywords is: Fuzzy Logic; Triangular fuzzy numbers; TOPSIS; Fuzzy-hybrid cluster; Immigrants.

Should be: Immigrants, Fuzzy Logic; Triangular fuzzy numbers; TOPSIS; Fuzzy-hybrid cluster.

Discussion: Tha main subject of the examination are immigrants, and methods are used to help decision makers to make decision in the most efficient way.

 

3. Row 29: ..... cultural cost of having this this.....

 

4. Actual: defuzzyfication

Should be: defuzzification. Changes must be made in the text.

 

5.Row 203: (a₁+a₂+a₃)/4

Should be: (a₁+a₂+a₃)/3 or (a₁+2a₂+a₃)/4

Discussion: If you do defuzzification of TFN by Center of area method then equation (a₁+a₂+a₃)/4 is not appropriate. For example: TFN(1;2;3) has the center of area (1+2+3)/3=6/3=2 or (1+2×2+3)/4=8/4=2. I think it is a misprint.

 

There is a mixture of methodology and numerical examples. It should be separated in two parts. The first part should explain methodoly based on mathematical tools while the second should represents application of methodology. In the first part authors must give some kind of flowchart with comprehensible steps. In the second part authors must give clear application of developed methodology with elementary calculation of every step.

 

For example:

Authors used thirty items questionnaire to get opinion from immigrants. A representative sample was 369 immigrants and they gave answers according to the 5 points semantic scale. Results are shown in the Table. 4. Every item was averaged by the sample size i.e. by 369 according to the Equation 2.

I suppose it. If authors used an another sample size which is different from 369 it is necessary to quote that number and explain the meaning of number (segments). This part of paper is not clear and authors must explain what segments they used when created information matrix. It is very important input for the TOPSIS method. Generally speaking, the information matrix equals decision making matrix which is composed of the finite set of alternatives (rows of matrix) and finite set of criteria (columns of matrix). Of course, matrix can be transposed.

 

Best regards.

Author Response

Please, see the attachement.

Author Response File: Author Response.doc

Reviewer 2 Report

Please see attached

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

We particularly thank you for the review as it contained very good comments that have helped us to improve the paper, but beyond this, it opened us new lines for future research.

See the attached file for seeing how we have responded to your comments.

Author Response File: Author Response.doc

Reviewer 3 Report

The aim of this paper is to assess the main determinants to be an immigrant in Cuenca, Ecuador, by using a fuzzy clustering approach.

The paper is interesting and well written.

However, it can be further enhanced. Please consider the comments below:

1. please underline which is the novelty of your work and which are the main results.
2. Literature should be broadened. In particular, I suggest considering the following work:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328266643_Cluster_Analysis_An_Application_to_a_Real_Mixed-Type_Data_Set

3. Which are main characteristics of the methodology?

I encourage the authors to refine their paper to make it available for publication in the journal.

Author Response

See the file attached with our response.

Author Response File: Author Response.doc