title: ergm.userterms: A Template Package for Extending statnet.
abstract: Exponential-family random graph models (ERGMs) represent a powerful and flexible class of models for the statistical analysis of networks.statnetis a suite of software packages that implement these models. This paper details how the capabilities for ERGM modeling can be expanded and customized by programming additional network statistics that may be included in ERGMs. We describe a template R package calledergm.usertermsthat can be modified for this purpose. It is designed to make this process as straightforward as possible. We also explain some of the internal workings ofstatnetthat will help users develop their own network analysis capabilities.
authors.affiliation: Pennsylvania State University.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Goodreau
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Handcock
keywords: Markov chain Monte Carlo; exponential-family random graph model; maximum likelihood estimation; p-star model