Invitation to Special Interest Group (SIG) on Network Science Event

We are delighted to invite you to the upcoming event of the Special Interest Group (SIG) on Network Science, within the Applied Data Science focus area. This event will be a fantastic opportunity for researchers, students, and professionals interested in network science to come together, learn from expert speakers, and engage in discussion and networking. The event will include two talks, each accompanied by interactive activities.

The event is scheduled for March 28, 2023, between 15:00 and 17:00 at RUPPERT – B (Zaal B in the M.Ruppert building), Utrecht University. We are also happy to inform you that there will be refreshments available during the event, so you to enjoy some drinks.
 
Please find below the details of the event and the abstracts of the talks:

First talk

Title: Graphical models in psychology: Estimation and Inference
 
Speaker: Lourens Waldorp, University of Amsterdam
Time: 15:00 – 15:50
 
Abstract: Psychological processes can be represented by a network of interacting psychological variables. Such representations are useful for understanding the aetiology of psychological phenomena and deciding on interventions in psychopathology. To obtain such networks we use graphical models. Graphical models are a multivariate representation of variables, called nodes, and their (conditional) associations, called edges. In psychology we obtain measurements of the nodes from and estimate the edges. Challenges to obtain accurate estimates of edges arise because we have few observations, mixed variable types (i.e., continuous and discrete), and dependence between observations in time series. Having obtained an estimate of a network, we require inference to make decisions on the structure of a network. Inference on networks is obtained in terms of posteriors or confidence intervals. In this presentation we discuss several of the approaches to each of these issues.

Second talk

Title: Negative ties in human networks: challenges to (sociological) models of networks
 
Speaker: Eva Jaspers
Time: 16:00-16:50
 
Abstract: Negative adult relationships are the anti-fabric of human social networks. They represent the rifts, frays and tears in a group of otherwise interlinked people that may not only exact a great personal cost on both sender and receiver but also give rise to or maintain cliques and fractures in their networks. The study of negative ties is therefore necessary for understanding the dynamics of our ‘networked lives’. Moreover, in societies with growing concerns about polarization and fragmentation along ethnic, religious and ideological lines, understanding how networks fracture is crucial to preventing all-out conflict between societal groups. Until recently, however, the available theoretical models, empirical observations and analytical methods lacked the tools and sophistication to take such research to the same level as its twin, the positive side of human interaction. This talk will give a brief overview of some of the most pressing issues in the sociological modelling of negative ties, as well as future directions for methodological advancement. As an applied network scholar, I will mostly discuss stochastic actor-oriented models and some problematic assumptions when applying these to the study of negative ties.

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We look forward to your participation in this event, and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.