This three-day workshop provides an introductory overview of longitudinal social network analysis using the RSiena package, focusing on the application of Stochastic Actor-oriented Models to study network dynamics as well as dynamics of networks and behavior. Participants will gain practical skills in modeling network panel data, as well as modeling co-evolution of networks and behavior, for application of these techniques across various academic disciplines.

Topics Covered
Example research questions , Types of data , Basics of the Stochastic Actor-oriented Model , Evaluation function , What happens in a ministep , Some example effects , RSiena installation , Data input and output , Model specification in RSiena , Parameter estimation , Selection and Influence , Basic ideas of co-evolution , The ministep for co-evolution , Social influence , Other effects for behavior , Specifying models for behavior in RSiena , Examples , Question time: what was unclear? , Goodness of fit assessment for SAOMs , The function sienaGOF , Examples of Goodness of Fit , Score-type tests , Return to model specification , What to do if estimation is difficult , What to do if the goodness of fit is inadequate , The procedure for parameter estimation , Testing parameters , Recommendations for model specification , Looking in the manual for effects , User-defined interactions , Example of a longitudinal network study , The five-parameter model , Basics of parameter interpretation , Selection plots , RSiena examples of network and behavior modeling , Examples of studies of networks and behavior , Question time again: what was unclear? , Change and the actor-oriented model , Rate functions , Creation and endowment functions , Specifying these in RSiena , SAOM for network-network co-evolution , SAOM for two-mode networks and co-evolution with one-mode networks , Where to find information