AUTHOR=Pilny Andrew , Ruge-Jones Luisa , Poole Marshall Scott TITLE=A tutorial for modeling the evolution of network dynamics for multiple groups JOURNAL=Frontiers in Human Dynamics VOLUME=4 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/human-dynamics/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2022.982066 DOI=10.3389/fhumd.2022.982066 ISSN=2673-2726 ABSTRACT=

Researchers have been increasingly taking advantage of the stochastic actor-oriented modeling framework as a method to analyze the evolution of network ties. Although the framework has proven to be a useful method to model longitudinal network data, it is designed to analyze a sample of one bounded network. For group and team researchers, this can be a significant limitation because such researchers often collect data on more than one team. This paper presents a nontechnical and hands-on introduction for a meta-level technique for stochastic actor-oriented models in RSIENA where researchers can simultaneously analyze network drivers from multiple samples of teams and groups. Moreover, we follow up with a multilevel Bayesian version of the model when it is appropriate. We also provide a framework for researchers to understand what types of research questions and theories could be examined and tested.