Comments on "Albayrak, M., & Allahverdy N. (2011). Development a new mutation operator to solve the Traveling Salesman Problem by aid of genetic algorithms. Expert Systems with Applications, 38(3), 1313-1320": A proposal of good practice

This short note presents a discussion arisen after reading ”Development a new mutation operator to solve the Traveling Salesman Problem by aid of Genetic Algorithms”, by Murat Albayrak and Novruz Allahverdi, (2011). Expert System with Applications (38)(pp. 1313-1320). The discussed paper presents a new greedy mutation operator to solve the well-known Traveling Salesman Problem. To prove the quality of their new operator, the authors compare different versions of a classical genetic algorithm, each of one with a different mutation operator. The experimentation shown by the authors can generate some controversy. In this short note, we explain the origin of this controversy and we bring a solution to prevent it in future publications.