Networks Evolving Step by Step: Statistical Analysis of Dyadic Event Data

• Published in: 2009 International Conference on Advances in Social Network Analysis and Mining : 20-22 July 2009 pp. 200 - 205
• Main Authors: Brandes, U., Lerner, J., Snijders, T.A.B.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 01.07.2009
• Subjects: Computer networks; Design methodology; Encoding; event data; Frequency; Information analysis; Information science; longitudinal analysis; political networks; signed networks; Social network services; social networks; Statistical analysis; Statistics; structural balance theory; Testing
• ISBN: 9780769536897; 0769536891
• DOI: 10.1109/ASONAM.2009.28

With few exceptions, statistical analysis of social networks is currently focused on cross-sectional or panel data. On the other hand, automated collection of network-data often produces event data, i.e., data encoding the exact time of interaction between social actors. In this paper we propose models and methods to analyze such networks of dyadic events and to determine the factors that influence the frequency and quality of interaction. We apply our methods to empirical datasets about political conflicts and test several hypotheses concerning reciprocity and structural balance theory.