Entropy Measures of Human Communication Dynamics

Sci Rep. 2018 Oct 24;8(1):15697. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-32571-3.

Abstract

Human communication is commonly represented as a temporal social network, and evaluated in terms of its uniqueness. We propose a set of new entropy-based measures for human communication dynamics represented within the temporal social network as event sequences. Using real world datasets and random interaction series of different types we find that real human contact events always significantly differ from random ones. This human distinctiveness increases over time and by means of the proposed entropy measures, we can observe sociological processes that take place within dynamic communities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Communication*
  • Databases, Factual
  • Electronic Mail / trends
  • Entropy*
  • Group Processes
  • Hospital Communication Systems / trends
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Physician-Patient Relations
  • Social Networking*
  • Students / psychology
  • Text Messaging / trends