Approaches to the analysis and visualization of multi-modal and

multi-relational networks

Overview

• TERMINOLOGY• ISSUES (generic tasks)• EXAMPLE • TASKS and APPROACHES• REFERENCES

Terminology

• Multi-relational (MR)• Multimodal (MM) – composed on 2+ node

types• Bipartite - … and only of links between types

– hence tripartite, s-/k-partite

• In the real world, MMMR is common!

ISSUES (generic tasks)• Lingua franca – graph theory (limitations when applied to

transport)• Partitioning problem (maxflow/mincut)• Temporal modeling of n-mode network interactions• Centrality analysis with n-mode data (even bipartite)• Blockmodelling (categorization of nodes by structural equivalence)• Detecting anomalous differences between multiple relations

– E.g. a Process model (or hierarchy) vs. a matrix of observed communication

• Semantics of nodes – how to translate data into an ontology?• Impacts of disruption – e.g. predicting transfer of ‘flow’ between

networks, making quantified predictions of delay• Single visualizations vs. multiple interacting visualizations

Example: Davis’ original (hand-crafted)

Spring embedder

Example: Davis (spring/eyeball)

Gower

Principal Components

Layered (apologies)

Trad approach to bipartite SN data

• Create secondary matrices:– row overlap (people attending the same meeting)– column overlap (meetings attended by same

person)

• Analyse positions, groups, centrality in these• Problem: ‘false groups’

False groups

2 of 2-mode, bipartite

1-mode (rows)

Contour map comparisonCommunity nesting, groups by KCommunity nesting, groups by I

Problems and approaches

Galois Lattice

Useful references

• Fararo, T J., and P. Doreian. (1984). "Tripartite Structural Analysis: Generalizing the Breiger-Wilson Formalism." Social Networks, 6, 141-175.

• Freeman, L. (1996) Cliques, Galois lattices, and the structure of human social groups, Social Networks, 18 (3), 173-187.

• CASOS’ metamatrix approach (http://www.casos.cs.cmu.edu)

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