Network analysis of multivariate data in psychological science

Nature Reviews Methods Primers, vol. 1

Abstract

In recent years, network analysis has been applied to identify and analyse patterns of statistical association in multivariate psychological data. In these approaches, network nodes represent variables in a data set, and edges represent pairwise conditional associations between variables in the data, while conditioning on the remaining variables. This Primer provides an anatomy of these techniques, describes the current state of the art and discusses open problems. We identify relevant data structures in which network analysis may be applied: cross-sectional data, repeated measures and intensive longitudinal data. We then discuss the estimation of network structures in each of these cases, as well as assessment techniques to evaluate network robustness and replicability. Successful applications of the technique in different research areas are highlighted. Finally, we discuss limitations and challenges for future research. Network analysis allows the investigation of complex patterns and relationships by examining nodes and the edges connecting them. Borsboom et al. discuss the adoption of network analysis in psychological research.

Authors 15

1. Denny Borsboom corresponding

   University of Amsterdam

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands

2. Marie Katharina Deserno

   Max Planck Institute for Human Development

   Affiliation as printed

   Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany

3. Mijke Rhemtulla

   University of California, Davis

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA

4. Sacha Epskamp

   University of Amsterdam

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands

   University of Amsterdam, Centre for Urban Mental Health, Amsterdam, Netherlands

5. Eiko I. Fried Aachen Department of Clinical Psychology

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Clinical Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands

6. Richard J. McNally

   Harvard University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA

7. Donald J. Robinaugh

   Harvard University · Massachusetts General Hospital

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

8. Marco Perugini

   University of Milano-Bicocca

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Psychology, University of Milan Bicocca, Milan, Italy

9. Jonas Dalege

   Santa Fe Institute

   Affiliation as printed

   Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM, USA

10. Giulio Costantini

    University of Milano-Bicocca

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychology, University of Milan Bicocca, Milan, Italy

11. Adela‐Maria Isvoranu

    University of Amsterdam

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands

12. Anna C. Wysocki

    University of California, Davis

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA

13. Claudia D. van Borkulo

    University of Amsterdam

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands

    University of Amsterdam, Centre for Urban Mental Health, Amsterdam, Netherlands

14. Riet van Bork

    University of Pittsburgh

    Affiliation as printed

    Center for Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

15. Lourens Waldorp

    University of Amsterdam

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands