Algebraic analysis of multiple social networks with multiplex

TL;DR

This paper introduces exttt{multiplex}, an R package that applies algebraic methods to analyze complex, multi-layered social networks, enabling creation, manipulation, and decomposition of various network types with visualization tools.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel R package that integrates algebraic tools for analyzing multiple, signed, and two-mode networks, including decomposition and pattern enumeration functionalities.

Findings

Provides algebraic tools for network analysis within R

Enables decomposition of complex network structures

Supports visualization of various graph types

Abstract

\pkg{multiplex} is a computer program that provides algebraic tools for the analysis of multiple network structures within the \proglang{R} environment. Apart from the possibility to create and manipulate multivariate data representing multiplex, signed, and two-mode networks, this package offers a collection of functions that deal with algebraic systems ---such as the partially ordered semigroup, and balance or cluster semirings--- their decomposition, and the enumeration of bundle patterns occurring at different levels of the network. Moreover, through Galois derivations between families of the pairs of subsets in different domains it is possible to analyze affiliation networks with an algebraic approach. Visualization of multigraphs, different forms of bipartite graphs, inclusion lattices, Cayley graphs is supported as well with related packages.