Econometrics Seminar - Network autocorrelation models for tie strength: evaluation of task performance in responder networks fighting wildfire

Researchers in many different areas of social network analysis have used the network autocorrelation model (Ord 1975; White, Burton, and Dow 1981) to model social influence in a given system. However, this classic model is ill equipped for many contemporary problems that require predicting edge strength. Our primary example is evaluations of task performance: in these networks, we often want to measure how task performance evaluation depends on the social networks within which these tasks our embedded. Here, we extend the network autocorrelation model to adapt to valued data. Specifically, we show how the model can be applied to predict tie weight in multi-modal systems evaluating wildfire response in Canada and Sweden.