title: A new method for constructing networks from binary data.
abstract: Network analysis is entering fields where network structures are unknown, such as psychology and the educational sciences. A crucial step in the application of network models lies in the assessment of network structure. Current methods either have serious drawbacks or are only suitable for Gaussian data. In the present paper, we present a method for assessing network structures from binary data. Although models for binary data are infamous for their computational intractability, we present a computationally efficient model for estimating network structures. The approach, which is based on Ising models as used in physics, combines logistic regression with model selection based on a Goodness-of-Fit measure to identify relevant relationships between variables that define connections in a network. A validation study shows that this method succeeds in revealing the most relevant features of a network for realistic sample sizes. We apply our proposed method to estimate the network of depression and anxiety symptoms from symptom scores of 1108 subjects. Possible extensions of the model are discussed.
authors.affiliation: 1] Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion regulation, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen [2] Department of Psychology, Psychological Methods, University of Amsterdam.
authors.forename: Claudia D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: van Borkulo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Psychological Methods, University of Amsterdam.
authors.forename: Denny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Borsboom
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Psychological Methods, University of Amsterdam.
authors.forename: Sacha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Epskamp
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Psychological Methods, University of Amsterdam.
authors.forename: Tessa F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Blanken
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion regulation, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boschloo
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion regulation, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Schoevers
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Psychological Methods, University of Amsterdam.
authors.forename: Lourens J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Waldorp
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012984:Software
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