Metrics for Temporal Text Networks

Abstract

Human communication, either online or offline, is characterized by when information is shared from one actor to the other and by what specific information is exchanged. Using text as a way to represent the exchanged information, we can represent human communication systems with a temporal text network model where actors and messages coexist in a dynamic multilayer network. In this model, actors and messages are represented in separate layers, connected by inter-layer temporal edges representing the communication acts -who and when communicate what information. In this chapter we revisit some measures specifically developed for temporal networks, and extend them to the case of temporal text networks. In particular, we focus on defining measures relevant for the analysis of information propagation, including the concepts of walk, path, temporal precedence and path distance measures. We conclude by discussing how to use the proposed measures in practice by conducting a comparative analysis in a sample communication network based on Twitter mentions.