MatrixExplorer: un système pour l'analyse exploratoire de réseaux sociaux

ABSTRACT

In this article, we present the MatrixExplorer system, aimed at exploring social networks. It has been designed for researchers in social sciences - sociology and history - and is based on an interactive process with multiple views. MatrixExplorer design comes from several interviews with researchers and a participatory design session that helped us assess users need in term of visualization and exploration of social networks. MatrixExplorer provides two representations for graphs: matrices and node-link diagrams. Exploration starts from a matrix representation to preserve readability and provides an iterative process to filter and organize the graph to reveal a structure and abstract it so that it can eventually be visualized as a readable node-link diagram.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.3 Group and Organization Interfaces

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)

  J. Computer Applications
  J.4 SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
      Subjects: Sociology

  K. Computing Milieux
  K.4 COMPUTERS AND SOCIETY
      K.4.3 Organizational Impacts

General Terms:
Design, Theory

Keywords:
consensus, exploratory analysis, graph visualization, interactive clustering, matrix visualization, reordering, social networks