Use of a simulated directional social network to compare measures of user influence

Authors

Jose G. Villarreal Jr., University of Texas-Pan American

Date of Award

5-2015

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Computer Science

First Advisor

Dr. Christine Reilly

Second Advisor

Dr. Laura Grabowski

Third Advisor

Dr. Bin Fu

Abstract

This paper proposes a new method for measuring user influence in directional social networks, derived from the works of Reilly et al. and Cha et al. The method being proposed in this paper considers an element from each of the two works. The first is the ratio of ‘messages forwarded’ over ‘messages posted’. The second element is the size of the audience. The second part of this study entails modeling and simulating an online social network. Using a data sample from the Twitter network to implement the simulation, it is going to allow us to compare the methods that are used to measure influence. The behaviors modeled include the act of gaining a follower, the act of creating a message, and the act of forwarding a message. These are the three behaviors we are using to compute influence.

Comments

Copyright 2015 Jose Villarreal Jr. All Rights Reserved.

https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/use-simulated-directional-social-network-compare/docview/1707661630/se-2?accountid=7119

Granting Institution

University of Texas-Pan American