Visual Queries on Bipartite Multivariate Dynamic Social Networks

Abstract

We present a new system for the visualization, visual query, and comparison of social networks modeled as bipartite multivariate dynamic graphs. Historians and sociologists study collections of documents -such as marriage acts, birth certificates, or contracts-from a region and time of interest and can transform them into Bipartite Multivariate Dynamic Social Networks to follow an in-depth analysis. However, few social network analysis tools are designed for this type of network, and existing ones rarely provide enough interactions to answer complex sociological questions.We present a new visual analytics system allowing to explore this type of network. In particular, we designed a visual query system specifically for this data model, allowing social scientists to easily apply filters on the topology and attributes of a network. We demonstrate how the interface coupled with the query system can be used to answer sociological questions with one real-world use case based on construction contracts.