Trend mining in social networks: from trend identification to visualization

A four stage social network trend mining framework, the IGCV (Identification, Grouping, Clustering and Visualisation) framework, is described. The framework extracts trends from social network data and then applies a sequence of techniques (“tools”) to this data to facilitate interpretation of the identified trends. Of particular note is the visualisation of trend migrations (changes) that feature within time stamped network data. The framework is illustrated using a sequence of four social networks extracted from the Cattle Tracing System (CTS) in operation in Great Britain, although it could equally well be applied to other forms of temporal data. The presented analysis of the IGCV framework indicates advantages, with respect to network trend mining, that can be gained; especially when the framework is applied to large real-world datasets.