Generalized Path Analysis for Social Networks

The social network literature features numerous methods for assigning value to paths as a function of their ties. 'gretel' systemizes these approaches, casting them as instances of a generalized path value function indexed by a penalty parameter. The package also calculates probabilistic path value and identifies optimal paths in either value framework. Finally, proximity matrices can be generated in these frameworks that capture high-order connections overlooked in primitive adjacency sociomatrices. Novel methods are described in Buch (2019) < https://davidbuch.github.io/analyzing-networks-with-gretel.html>. More traditional methods are also implemented, as described in Yang, Knoke (2001) .