Data mining of social networks represented as graphs

In this survey we review the literature and concepts of the data mining of social networks, with special emphasis on their representation as a graph structure. The survey is divided into two principal parts: first we conduct a survey of the literature which forms the 'basis' and background for the field; second we define a set of 'hot topics' which are currently in vogue in congresses and the literature. The 'basis' or background part is divided into four major themes: graph theory, social networks, online social networks and graph mining. The graph mining theme is organized into ten subthemes. The second, 'hot topic' part, is divided into five major themes: communities, influence and recommendation, models metrics and dynamics, behaviour and relationships, and information diffusion. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.