Modeling Relational Event Dynamics with statnet
Carter T. Butts
This workshop session will provide an introduction to the analysis and simulation of relational event data (i.e., actions, interactions, or other events involving multiple actors that occur over time) within R/statnet platform. We will begin by reviewing the basics of relational event modeling, with an emphasis on models with piecewise constant hazards. We will then discuss estimation, assessment, and simulation of dyadic relational event models using the relevent package, with an emphasis on hands-on applications of the methods and interpretation of results. Attendees are expected to have had some prior exposure to R and statnet, and completion of the "Introduction to Network Analysis with R and statnet" workshop session is suggested (but not required) as preparation for this session. Familiarity with parametric statistical methods is strongly recommended, and some knowledge of hazard or survival analysis will be helpful.
statnet is a collection of packages for the R statistical computing system that supports the representation, manipulation, visualization, modeling, simulation, and analysis of relational data. statnet packages are contributed by a team of volunteer developers, and are made freely available under the GNU Public License. These packages are written for the R statistical computing environment, and can be used with any computing platform that supports R (including Windows, Linux, and Mac). statnet packages can be used to handle a wide range of simulation and analysis tasks, including support for large networks, statistical network models, network dynamics, and missing data.