Introduction

A graphical model is a statistical model that is represented by a graph. The factorization properties underlying graphical models facilitate tractable computation with multivariate distributions, making the models a valuable tool with a plethora of applications. Furthermore, directed graphical models allow intuitive causal interpretations and have become a cornerstone for causal inference.

Overview

While there exist a number of excellent books on graphical models, the field has grown so much that individual authors can hardly cover its entire scope. Moreover, the field is interdisciplinary by nature. Through chapters by leading researchers from different areas, this handbook provides a broad and accessible overview of the state of the art.

Key features

Contributions by leading researchers from a range of disciplines

Structured in five parts, covering foundations, computational aspects, statistical inference, causal inference, and applications

Balanced coverage of concepts, theory, methods, examples, and applications

Chapters can be read mostly independently, while cross-references highlight connections

The handbook is targeted at a wide audience, including graduate students, applied researchers, and experts in graphical models.