Visualization methods for longitudinal social networks and stochastic actor-oriented modeling

As a consequence of the rising interest in longitudinal social networks and their analysis, there is also an increasing demand for tools to visualize them. We argue that similar adaptations of state-of-the-art graph-drawing methods can be used to visualize both, longitudinal networks and predictions of stochastic actor-oriented models (SAOMs), the most prominent approach for analyzing such networks. The proposed methods are illustrated on a longitudinal network of acquaintanceship among university freshmen.

► Dynamic graph drawing: review of goals and approaches. ► Visualization methods that allow for exploration of longitudinal social networks. ► Diagnostic visualization methods that support the assessment of stochastic actor-oriented models. ► All methods illustrated on realistic data. ► Most methods available in software visone.