Bonfring International Journal of Software Engineering and Soft Computing, Vol. 2, No.

1, March 2012 1
ISSN 2277 5099 | 2012 Bonfring
Abstract--- In this paper we study about the problems
faced by sports students in colleges using Fuzzy cognitive
maps (FCM) a well established Artificial Intelligence
technique that incorporates ideas from Neural networks and
Fuzzy Logic. FCM create models as collections of concepts
and the various causal relations that exist between these
concepts .The decision capabilities of the FCM structure are
examined and a model developed based on the beliefs of a
domain expert. The model is examined by both statically using
graph theory concepts and dynamically through simulations.
Keywords--- Fuzzy Cognitive Maps, Hidden Pattern, Fixed
Cycles, Path, Graph Theory

I. INTRODUCTION
OGNITIVE MAP (CM) models were introduced by
Axelrod in the late 1970s and were widely used for
analyzing the sociological problems and decision making in
sociological problems. The introduction of fuzzy logic
give new representing capabilities to CMs and led to
development of fuzzy cognitive maps (FCM) by Kosoko in the
late 1980s [1, 12].
FCM create models as collections of concepts and the
various causal relations that exists between these concepts.
The concepts are represented by nodes and the causal
relationships by directed arcs between the nodes [2].
Each arc is accompanied by a weight which defines the
degree of relation between the two nodes. The sign of the
weight the positive or negative or zero causal relation between
the two concept nodes.
II. DEVELOPMENT OF FCM MODELS FOR THE CASE OF
STUDY ABOUT PROBLEMS FACED BY SPORTS
STUDENTS IN COLLEGES
The reliability of an FCM model depends on whether its
construction method follows rules that ensure its reliability.
Since the model is created by the personal opinions and points
of view of the experts on the specific topic, the reliability of
the model is heavily depended on the level of expertise of the

S. Dhanasekar, Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics, FSH,
S.R.M. University, Chennai. E-mail:dhana17101975@gmail.com
R. Sattanathan, Associate Professor & Head, P.G & Research
Department of Mathematics, D.G. Vaishnav College, Chennai. E-mail:
rsattanathan@gmail.com
domain experts. These are two main methods for the
constructing of FCMs:
1. The documentary coding method which involves the
systematic encoding of documents that presents the
assertions of a specific topic.
2. The questionnaire method which involves interview
and filling in of questionnaires by domain experts [3].
In our case we used the second method, discussion,
interviewing, analyzing and also supplying with
questionnaires to a domain expert. The domain expert
providing the actors and factors, the possible alternative
scenarios as well as the analysis of the findings [4].
The major reason behind choosing this topic is that sports
is often neglected in the curriculum of Indian educational
system. Indian education system which promotes only
academic achievements, tests only the retaining capacity of
students is at fault. India can boast of producing more than 45
lakhs engineers per day but the quality of its sport players is a
thing of concern. This of attitude of neglect starts in the
secondary and senior secondary or high schools and the trend
continues till the college level.
The effect of the neglect suffered by the sports field is
clearly reflected in the performance of India in global
competitions such as Olympics and common wealth games.
India could barely manage a gold medal in the Beijing
Olympics2008 but its Asian counterparts without even 2% of
Indias population and geographical cover, such as S.Korea
and Japan were placed 5
th
and 6
th
in the medal tally.
Government has enacted laws for promoting the entry of
sports to even professional colleges, where in priority is given
to academic brilliance, through reservation of 3% of seats for
sports students.
In both college and high school, there are a multitude of
roles that a student-player must fulfill [6, 7]. Multiple roles
create psychological stress partially based on time and energy.
The next major biggest obstacle between student players and
academic success is lack of time. With games, practices,
travel, weight training, injury/recovery treatments, family
responsibilities, and alumni/community related duties, its a
wonder that athletes ever have time for anything outside their
game during the competitive seasonneedless to say, by the
time the player sits down to study, he/she is exhausted. Even
staying awake is a worthy challengeso time for study can
become severely limited.
An Application of the Fuzzy Cognitive Mappings
to Study about the Problems Faced by the Sports
Students in Colleges
S. Dhanasekar and R. Sattanathan
C





According to [8] one of the most important problem faced
by students which is students in these environments is stigma
attached to student-players and treatment of student-players by
faculty and non-sports students; where in student-players are
faced with negative stereotypes which depict them as low
achievers academically and undeservingly privileged when it
comes to academic requirements. We decide to analyze the
problems they face. We decide the following attributes are
taken as major influencing factors:
- Negative perception of teachers about sports students
- Teachers are thinking that sports students get unfair
advantages.
- Encouragement from teachers
- Extra time spent by the teachers to teach them
- Not finishing the assignments given by the teachers
- Exhausted in practicing
- Lack of time management skills of sports students
- They compelled to concentrate on studies
- Ill treatment of teachers
-Teachers do not understand the physical constraints of
the students.
-Lack of knowledge of sports by the teacher.
-Irregularity to classes


III. APPLICATION FOR USING FCM MODEL
The adjacency matrix for the problem is
E=


S6
S1
S2
S4
S3
S5
S7
S9
S8
S11 S10
S12

A. Static Analysis
The static analysis of the model is based on studying the
characteristics of the weighted directed graph that represent
the model, using graph theory techniques. The first way to
examine statically the models graph is by calculating its
density. The densityd is given by d= m/n (n-1)
Where m is the number of arcs in the model and n is the
number of concepts of the model. Product n (n-1) is equal to
the maximum number of arcs that a graph of n nodes can have.
Density gives an indication of the complexity of the model.
High density indicates increased complexity in the model and
respectively to the problem that the model represents. For this
problem the density is d= 49/12*11=49/132=0.37 which is
little bit high and gives indication of the complexity of the
problem that it represents.
Graph theory also provides the nodes importance that
assists the static analysis of FCM models. Nodes importance
or cognitive or conceptual centrality as it is called gives an
indication of the importance that the node or concept have for
the model, by measuring the degree to which the node is
central to the graph. The importance of the node i is evaluated
as Imp (i) = in (i) +out (i)
Where in (i) = number of incoming arcs of node i
Out (i) = number of outgoing arcs of node i
According to this definition, the importance of the nodes
of the FCM model is given by

It is found that most central or important concepts
were, ,

B. Dynamical Behavior
Suppose = (1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0) (i.e.) if is on
E = ( 0 1 -1-1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0) (1 1 0 0
0 0 0 0 01 0 0 0)=
E = ( 1 1 -3 -3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1)
( 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1) =
E = (2 1 -4 -4 1 0 1 0 3 0 0 1) (1 1 0 0 1
0 1 0 1 0 0 1)=
E= (4 1 -5 -5 2 0 1 0 5 0 0 3) (1 1 0 0 1
0 1 0 1 0 0 1)=
Therefore If is on then all are on.
Becomes negative.
Let = (0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0) i.e. is on.
E = (1 0 -1 -1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0) (1 1 0 0
0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0) =
E = (1 1 -3 -3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1) (1 1 0 0
0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1) =





E= ( 2 1 -4 -4 1 0 1 0 3 0 0 1) (1 1 0 0 1
0 1 0 1 0 0 1)=


E= (4 1 -5 -5 2 0 1 0 5 0 0 3) (1 1 0
0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1)=
Therefore if is on all are on.
If is on then is on and are all negative. If is
on is on and are negative. If is on,
are all on and are negative. If is
on,

are all on and are negative. If is
on, are all on. Like this we have to find out the
dynamical behavior of all the attributes.
Next we will discuss the causal relation between the
important nodes .
The adjacency matrix is given by


Suppose = (1 0 0 0 0 0) (i.e.) if is on
E = (0 -1 -1 0 1 0) (1 0 0 0 1 0) =
E = (0 -2 -2 0 1 1) (1 0 0 0 1 1) =
E = (1 -3 -3 1 2 1) (1 0 0 1 1 1) =
= (2 -4 -3 1 2 1) (1 0 0 1 1 1) = =

If is on, is on.
Suppose = (0 1 0 0 0 0) (i.e.) if is on
E = (0 1 1 -1 -1 -1) (0 1 1 0 0 0 0)=
E = (0 1 1 -2 -2 -2) ( 0 1 1 0 0 0) = =
If is on is on.
Suppose = ( 0 0 1 0 0 0 ) (i.e.) if is on
E = ( 0 1 0 -1 -1 -1) (0 1 1 0 0 0)=
E = ( 0 1 1 -2 -2 -2) ( 0 1 1 0 0 0) = =

If is on is on.
Suppose = ( 0 0 0 1 0 0) (i.e.) if is on
E = ( 1 -1 0 0 1 0 ) (1 0 0 1 1 0)=
E = ( 1 -3 -2 0 2 1) (1 0 0 1 1 1) =
E = (2 -4 -3 1 2 1) (1 0 0 1 1 1) = =
If is on is on.
Suppose = ( 0 0 0 0 1 0) (i.e.) if is on
E = ( 0 -1 -1 0 0 1 ) (0 0 0 0 1 1)=
E = ( 1 -2 -2 1 1 1) (1 0 0 1 1 1) =
E = (2 -4 -3 1 2 1) (1 0 0 1 1 1) = =
If is on, is on.
Suppose = ( 0 0 0 0 0 1) (i.e.) if is on
E = ( 0 -1 -1 0 0 1 ) (0 0 0 0 1 1)=
E = ( 1 -2 -2 1 1 1) (1 0 0 1 1 1) =
E = (2 -4 -3 1 2 1) (1 0 0 1 1 1) = =

If is on, is on.
C. Graph Theory Techniques
Replace -1 by 0 in the adjacency matrix. The adjacency
matrix is given by


The path from to is -- -- . i.e Negative
perception of teachers about sports students will
leads to ill-treatment of teachers, that leads to
irregularity to classes by the sports students.
The path from to is -- -- -- . i.e. Not
finishing the assignments given by the teachers leads
to Negative perception of teachers about sports
students will leads to ill-treatment of teachers, that
leads to irregularity to classes by the sports students.
The path from to is -- i.e. ill-treatment
of teachers leads to irregularity to classes by the
sports students.
There exists three cycles in this weighted graph. --
-- -- -- -- . i.e Encouragement from
teachers and Extra time spent by the teachers to
teach them are inter related. -- -- -- i.e.
irregularity to classes leads to

Negative perception
of teachers about sports students will leads to ill-
treatment of teachers, that leads again to irregularity
to classes by the sports students. -- -- --
Irregularity to classes leads to

students not
finishing the assignments that will leads to ill-
treatment of teachers, that again leads to irregularity
to classes by the sports students.
D. Observation
1. From all analyses we get the observation that the
main problem faced by the sports students is the ill
treatment of teachers. The most important reason
behind that problem is the negative perception of the





teachers about sports students, because if this is on
are on. Therefore we should eradicate
that perception or change that in to positive
perception. For solving this problem the college
management or government should arrange
counseling sessions for the teachers so that they can
change their perception and attitude. Or they can
arrange an intermediate person between sports
students, teachers to come closer so that they can
understand each other very well. The counseling
session should be in giving a knowledge about sports,
amount of physical work which is needed for sports.
If teachers can change their negative perception, they
can give encouragement which is very much needed
by the sports students and can also spent more time
after their working hours to teach.
2. The second important attribute is irregularity to
classes. If this is on are all on. This is
due to the lack of time management skills of sports
students. That results in to not finishing the
assignments and irregularity to classes. Therefore the
management should arrange for a workshop on time
management skills to the sports students so that they
can use their time effectively. The workshop should
be conducted throughout the year.
IV. CONCLUSION
Using the FCM method, a model was created for the case
of problems faced by sports students in institutions in India
based on the opinion of a domain expert. The model was first
examined statically. The density of models graph was
calculated and found moderately high, indicating the
complexity of the case. The conceptual centralities of the
concepts that exist in the model were also calculated and the
most central and the most important concepts of the model
were found. The model was then simulated in a dynamic and it
was predicted that student athletes are a valuable resource;
however they are not always treated and seen as such. Nor do
they always posses the skills to manage their academic and
athletic commitments, effectively communicate with teachers
or have the academic skills to succeed. Developing better
relationships with teachers and increasing teachers
understanding of the challenges and time commitments of
sports students can have positive results in their academic
performance and attitudes.
Through the above static and dynamic studies of the FCM
model was identified as important and useful decision support
system, since it capabable to provide support to decision
makers, by making predictions on various scenarios that are
imposed on the FCM model.
REFERENCE
[1] KoSoKo B. Fuzzy cognitive maps. Int. J. of Man Machinestudies 24
Pp. 65 75, 1986
[2] Vasantha Kandaswamy and W.B.Florentin.S. Fuzzy Cognitive maps and
Neutrosophic cognitive maps, Xiquan. U.S.A. 2003.
[3] Athanuasis.k.Tsadirus, Ilius Using FCM as a decision support system for
political decisions; the case of turkeys intergration in to European
union. NCS3746, Pp. 65-75 Springer verlag 2005
[4] R.Giordano,M. Vurro Fuzzy Cognitive Map to support conflict analysis
in drought management STUDDFUZZ 247 Pp. 403-425 Springer
verlag 2010.
[5] Y.G. Petelas, K.F.Pasopoulos, Improving FCM learning through
memetic particle swarm optimization, Soft COMPUT 13C, Pp. 77-94,
2009
[6] Mrs. Margret Sidling, A study of attitude of teachers towards athletes in
middle school, USA 1994
[7] Sloven Treadles, A research on relationship between high school
students and teachers, Norway 1987
[8] Snyder A study on stress undergone by student athletes 1985
[9] Zadeh .L.A, Fuzzy sets, Information and control, Pp. 338-353, 1065
[10] L.A. Zadeh, Toward a generalization theory of uncertainty an
outline Information sciences, Vol. 17, Pp. 1-40, 2005
[11] G.J. Klir, B. Yuan, Fuzzy sets and logic, Theory and application
Prentice hall , International Inc. 1995
[12] B. Kosko, Fuzzy Thinking. The New Science of Fuzzy Logic. London:
Harper Collins, 1994.