Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences - Research Publications

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    New specifications for exponential random graph models
    Snijders, TAB ; Pattison, PE ; Robins, GL ; Handcock, MS ; Stolzenberg, RM (WILEY-BLACKWELL, 2006)
    The most promising class of statistical models for expressing structural properties of social networks observed at one moment in time is the class of exponential random graph models (ERGMs), also known as p* models. The strong point of these models is that they can represent a variety of structural tendencies, such as transitivity, that define complicated dependence patterns not easily modeled by more basic probability models. Recently, Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms have been developed that produce approximate maximum likelihood estimators. Applying these models in their traditional specification to observed network data often has led to problems, however, which can be traced back to the fact that important parts of the parameter space correspond to nearly degenerate distributions, which may lead to convergence problems of estimation algorithms, and a poor fit to empirical data. This paper proposes new specifications of exponential random graph models. These specifications represent structural properties such as transitivity and heterogeneity of degrees by more complicated graph statistics than the traditional star and triangle counts. Three kinds of statistics are proposed: geometrically weighted degree distributions, alternating k-triangles, and alternating independent two-paths. Examples are presented both of modeling graphs and digraphs, in which the new specifications lead to much better results than the earlier existing specifications of the ERGM. It is concluded that the new specifications increase the range and applicability of the ERGM as a tool for the statistical analysis of social networks.
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    Obesity-related behaviors in adolescent friendship networks
    de la Haye, K ; Robins, G ; Mohr, P ; Wilson, C (ELSEVIER, 2010-07)
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    Hegemonic and Other Masculinities in Local Social Contexts
    Lusher, D ; Robins, G (SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC, 2009-06)
    This article is a theoretical examination of Connell's social theory of gender, discussing how hegemonic, complicit, subordinate, and marginalized masculinities interact and relate to one another in the men's everyday lives in particular social contexts. Connell's theory is articulated in global terms that need to be localized to examine the actual interactions of men with one another. The theory implies a multilevel framework that the authors develop more explicitly. They investigate two interrelated theoretical concerns: (a) inadequately detailed interdependencies between structural, individual, and cultural factors with respect to masculinities, and (b) the lack of contextualization of masculinities in specific relational settings. The authors suggest that theoretical insights gained from social network theory and analysis allow such issues to be addressed and assist in local-level accounts of gendered power relations. The authors conclude by specifying Connell's theory into particular, testable hypotheses for use with statistical models for social networks.
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    Women's developmental experiences of living with type 1 diabetes
    Kelly, G ; Lawrence, JA ; Dodds, AE (Institut fuer Klinische Psychologie und Gemeindepsychologie, 2005-01-01)
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    Recent developments in exponential random graph (p*) models for social networks
    Robins, G ; Snijders, T ; Wang, P ; Handcock, M ; Pattison, P (ELSEVIER, 2007-05)
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    An introduction to exponential random graph (p*) models for social networks
    Robins, G ; Pattison, P ; Kalish, Y ; Lusher, D (ELSEVIER, 2007-05)
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    Small and other worlds: Global network structures from local processes
    Robins, G ; Pattison, P ; Woolcock, J (UNIV CHICAGO PRESS, 2005-01)