Social network dynamics: the importance of distinguishing between heterogeneous and homogeneous changes

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
Mathias Franz, Susan C Alberts

Abstract

Social network analysis is increasingly applied to understand the evolution of animal sociality. Identifying ecological and evolutionary drivers of complex social structures requires inferring how social networks change over time. In most observational studies, sampling errors may affect the apparent network structures.Here, we argue that existing approaches tend not to control sufficiently for some types of sampling errors when social networks change over time. Specifically, we argue that two different types of changes may occur in social networks, heterogeneous and homogeneous changes, and that understanding network dynamics requires distinguishing between these two different types of changes, which are not mutually exclusive. Heterogeneous changes occur if relationships change differentially, e.g. if some relationships are terminated but others remain intact. Homogeneous changes occur if all relationships are proportionally affected in the same way, e.g. if grooming rates decline similarly across all dyads. Homogeneous declines in the strength of relationships can strongly reduce the probability of observing weak relationships, producing the appearance of heterogeneous network changes. Using simulations, we confirm that fail...Continue Reading

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Jan 12, 2016·Current Zoology·Mathias FranzSusan C Alberts

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Citations

Oct 11, 2017·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Damien R Farine
Jun 17, 2021·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Michael N WeissDarren P Croft

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