A methodology for applying social network analysis metrics to biological interaction networks

Abstract

We propose a methodology for applying Social Network Analysis (SNA) metrics to biological Interaction Network studies in the Biodiversity Informatics domain, which may serve as a guide for this activity to other researchers. The methodology is structured into four steps: (i) mapping the data types and the interactions available; (ii) defining the key-questions to be answered and the analysis variables; (iii) choosing the SNA metrics appropriate to the context of the research; and (iv) performing the biological analysis with the support of SNA. Among the material resources used in the development of this research are: SNA metrics (network and species level) and the programs used for its calculation; Statistical Analysis approach (Exploratory Data Analysis and Multivariate Data Analysis) as a support tool; and Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) to formalize the methodology. From this research, we found that a systematic method to guide the steps one research can facilitate the researchers' works and the interaction with experts from several fields of knowledge. In addition, we noted that there is the possibility of applying this methodology to underexplored knowledge fields.