Membership functions I: Comparing methods of measurement

A set o f questionnaires was prepared to compare four elicitation methods: point esthnation, bzterval estflnation, membership function exemplification, and pairwise comparison. Technical and nontechnical topics were involved, assuming subjects performed either as measurenlent instruments or as repositories o f knowledge. The advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of each method are discussed on the basis o f the evaluation of the answers given by 22 professors and graduate students. The analysis o f the results presented herein is extended in Part 11, where trends in fuzziness are discussed. Both Parts I and H are oriented toward practical applications.