Modern social networks frequently encompass multiple distinct types of connectivity information; for instance, explicitly acknowledged friend relationships might complement behavioral measures that link users according to their actions or interests. One way to represent these networks is as multi-layer graphs, where each layer contains a unique set of edges over the same underlying vertices (users). Edges in different layers typically have related but distinct semantics; depending on the application multiple layers might be used to reduce noise through averaging, to perform multifaceted analyses, or a combination of the two. However, it is not obvious how to extend standard graph analysis techniques to the multi-layer setting in a flexible way. In this paper we develop latent variable models and methods for mining multi-layer networks for connectivity patterns based on noisy data.
It is argued that P-values and the tests based upon them give unsatisfactory results, especially in large samples. It is shown that, in regression, when there are many candidate independent variables, standard variable selection procedures can give very misleading results. Also, by selecting a single model, they ignore model uncertainty and so underestimate the uncertainty about quantities of interest. The Bayesian approach to hypothesis testing, model selection, and accounting for model uncertainty is presented. Implementing this is straightforward through the use of the simple and accurate BIC approximation, and it can be done using the output from standard software. Specific results are presented for most of the types of model commonly used in sociology. It is shown that this approach overcomes the difficulties with P-values and standard model selection procedures based on them. It also allows easy comparison of nonnested models, and permits the quantification of the evidence for a null hypothesis of interest, such as a convergence theory or a hypothesis about societ al norms.