Exponential Random Graph Models for Social Networks

Dr Dean Lusher is Lecturer in Sociology at Swinburne University of Technology. He works closely with leading methodologists to develop an intuitive understanding of exponential graph models, how they link to broader network theory, and how to fit them to real-life data. His research applications are directed at issues of social norms and social hierarchies. Dr Johan Koskinen is Lecturer in Social Sciences at the University of Manchester. He is a statistician working with statistical modeling and inference. Focusing on social network data, Dr Koskinen deals with generative models for different types of structures, such as longitudinal network data, networks nested in multilevel structures, and multilevel networks classified by affiliations. Garry Robins is Professor in the School of Psychological Sciences at the University of Melbourne. Robins is a mathematical psychologist whose research deals with quantitative and statistical models for social and relational systems. His research has won international awards from the Psychometric Society, the American Psychological Association, and the International Network for Social Network Analysis.

• Introduction Dean Lusher, Johan Koskinen and Garry Robins; 1. What are exponential random graph models Garry Robins and Dean Lusher; 2. The formation of social network structure Dean Lusher and Garry Robins; 3. A simplified account of ERGM as a statistical model Garry Robins and Dean Lusher; 4. An example of ERGM analysis Dean Lusher and Garry Robins; 5. Exponential random graph model fundamentals Johan Koskinene and Galina Daraganova; 6. Dependence graphs and sufficient statistics Johan Koskinen and Galina Daraganova; 7. Social selection, dyadic covariates and geospatial effects Garry Robins and Galina Daraganova; 8. Autologistic actor attribute models Galina Daraganova and Garry Robins; 9. ERGM extensions: models for multiple networks and bipartite networks Peng Wang; 10. Longitudinal models Tom Snijders and Johan Koskinen; 11. Simulation, estimation and goodness of fit Johan Koskinen and Tom Snijders; 12. Illustrations: simulation, estimation and goodness of fit Garry Robins and Dean Lusher; 13. Personal attitudes, perceived attitudes and social structures: a social selection model Dean Lusher and Garry Robins; 14. How to close a hole: exploring alternative closure mechanisms in inter-organizational networks Alessandro Lomi and Francesca Pallotti; 15. Interdependencies between working relations: multivariate ERGMs for advice and satisfaction Yu Zhao and Olaf Rank; 16. Brain, brawn or optimism? The structure and correlates of emergent military leadership Yuval Kalish and Gil Luria; 17. An ALAAM analysis of unemployment: the dual importance of who you know and where you live Galina Daraganova and Philippa Pattison; 18. Longitudinal changes in face-to-face and text message-mediated friendship networks Tasuku Igarashi; 19. The differential impact of directors' social and financial capital on corporate interlock formation Nicholas Harrigan and Matthew Bond; 20. Comparing networks: a structural correspondence between behavioural and recall networks Eric Quintane; 21. Modelling social networks: next steps Philippa Pattison and Tom Snijders.

'I've been waiting impatiently for this book and I was definitely not disappointed. Finally we have a sourcebook on ERGMs that is both comprehensive and comprehensible. Most of the chapters are written for quantitative researchers who are not statisticians. Many illustrative empirical applications are worked through. Software packages are discussed. For the researcher who is intrigued by the possibility of analyzing network data with an ERGM, or who is already trying to do so, this is an indispensable resource.' Peter Carrington, University of Waterloo