The degree distribution of networks: Statistical model selection

Abstract

The degree distribution has been viewed as an important characteristic of network data. Many biological networks have been labelled scale-free as their degree distribution can be approximately described by a power-law probability distribution. This chapter presents a formal statistical model selection procedure that can determine which functional form, from a collection of specified models, best describes the degree distribution of network data. The degree distribution found for empirical data is viewed as belonging to a class of probability models and the model which best describes the data is determined in a maximum likelihood framework. In conclusion, it is important to note that these st..