Start by brainstorming
by using this table or use the results from other analyses and
techniques. Write down a pro or con and its analogous con or pro.
For example, if lining a canal will reduce seepage (pro) then
it may also reduce groundwater recharge from seepage (con).
For example, here is a simple pro/con table for recharging
treated water:
Pro/Con table 1
Pro
|
Con
|
Provide peaking water supplies |
Expensive |
Easy maintenance |
Public may perceive health risk |
To compare the pros and cons of more than one option, you
can create a more complex table:
Pro/Con table 2
Water
recharge |
Water
conservation |
Pro
|
Con
|
Pro
|
Con
|
Provide peaking
water supplies |
Expensive
source of water |
Inexpensive |
Continuous education needed |
Easy maintenance |
May pose perceived health risk |
Perceived to be safer water source |
Doesn't provide
stable source of water |
For decisions involving more than two choices, you can create
a pro/con table with weights. MATS is a
very effective way to do this in more detail.
- List each factor that provides evidence for or against
various alternatives.
- Assign weights to each factor to reflect their relative
importance.
- Make a numerical rating of the extent to which the evidence
about each factor favors (or argues against) each alternative.
- Multiply the score each item gets on each factor by the
weight assigned to that factor, then add up all the results
to get an overall score for each alternative.
|