Graphical model

 ( Bayesian Statistics ) 

A graphical model or probabilistic graphical model ( PGM) or structured probabilistic model is a probabilistic model for which a graph expresses the conditional dependence structure between . Graphical models are commonly used in probability theory, statistics—particularly Bayesian statistics—and machine learning.

---

Types Generally, probabilistic graphical models use a graph-based representation as the foundation for encoding a distribution over a multi-dimensional space and a graph that is a compact or Factor graph representation of a set of independences that hold in the specific distribution. Two branches of graphical representations of distributions are commonly used, namely, and Markov random fields. Both families encompass the properties of factorization and independences, but they differ in the set of independences they can encode and the factorization of the distribution that they induce.

Koller, D. (2026). 9780262013192, MIT Press. . ISBN 9780262013192

---

Undirected Graphical Model The undirected graph shown may have one of several interpretations; the common feature is that the presence of an edge implies some sort of dependence between the corresponding random variables. From this graph, we might deduce that B, C, and D are all conditionally independent given A. This means that if the value of A is known, then the values of B, C, and D provide no further information about each other. Equivalently (in this case), the joint probability distribution can be factorized as:

$PA,B,C,D\; =\; f\_\{AB\}A,B\; \backslash cdot\; f\_\{AC\}A,C\; \backslash cdot\; f\_\{AD\}A,D$

for some non-negative functions $f\_\{AB\},\; f\_\{AC\},\; f\_\{AD\}$.

---

Bayesian network If the network structure of the model is a directed acyclic graph, the model represents a factorization of the joint probability of all random variables. More precisely, if the events are $X\_1,\backslash ldots,X\_n$ then the joint probability satisfies

$PX\_1,\backslash ldots,X\_n=\backslash prod\_\{i=1\}^nPX\_i|\backslash text\{pa\}(X\_i)$

where $\backslash text\{pa\}(X\_i)$ is the set of parents of node $X\_i$ (nodes with edges directed towards $X\_i$). In other words, the joint distribution factors into a product of conditional distributions. For example, in the directed acyclic graph shown in the Figure this factorization would be

$PA,B,C,D\; =\; PA\backslash cdot\; PB\backslash cdot\; PC\; \backslash cdot\; PD|A,C$.

Any two nodes are conditionally independent given the values of their parents. In general, any two sets of nodes are conditionally independent given a third set if a criterion called d-separation holds in the graph. Local independences and global independences are equivalent in Bayesian networks.

This type of graphical model is known as a directed graphical model, Bayesian network, or belief network. Classic machine learning models like hidden Markov models, neural networks and newer models such as variable-order Markov models can be considered special cases of Bayesian networks.

One of the simplest Bayesian Networks is the Naive Bayes classifier.

---

Cyclic Directed Graphical Models The next figure depicts a graphical model with a cycle. This may be interpreted in terms of each variable 'depending' on the values of its parents in some manner. The particular graph shown suggests a joint probability density that factors as

$PA,B,C,D\; =\; PA\backslash cdot\; PB\backslash cdot\; PC,D|A,B$,

but other interpretations are possible.

Thomas Richardson (1996). 9781558604124, Morgan Kaufmann Pub.. ISBN 9781558604124

---

Other types

• Dependency network where cycles are allowed
• Tree-augmented classifier or TAN model
• Targeted Bayesian network learning (TBNL)
• A factor graph is an undirected bipartite graph connecting variables and factors. Each factor represents a function over the variables it is connected to. This is a helpful representation for understanding and implementing belief propagation.
• A clique tree or junction tree is a tree of cliques, used in the junction tree algorithm.
• A chain graph is a graph which may have both directed and undirected edges, but without any directed cycles (i.e. if we start at any vertex and move along the graph respecting the directions of any arrows, we cannot return to the vertex we started from if we have passed an arrow). Both directed acyclic graphs and undirected graphs are special cases of chain graphs, which can therefore provide a way of unifying and generalizing Bayesian and Markov networks.

• An ancestral graph is a further extension, having directed, bidirected and undirected edges.
• Random field techniques
• A Markov random field, also known as a Markov network, is a model over an undirected graph. A graphical model with many repeated subunits can be represented with plate notation.
• A conditional random field is a discriminative model specified over an undirected graph.
• A restricted Boltzmann machine is a Bipartite graph generative model specified over an undirected graph.
• A staged tree is an extension of a Bayesian network for sequences of discrete valued events. They allow for context specific independences and non-product sample spaces.

---

Applications The framework of the models, which provides algorithms for discovering and analyzing structure in complex distributions to describe them succinctly and extract the unstructured information, allows them to be constructed and utilized effectively. Applications of graphical models include causal inference, information extraction, speech recognition, computer vision, decoding of low-density parity-check codes, modeling of gene regulatory networks, gene finding and diagnosis of diseases, and graphical models for protein structure.

---

See also

• Belief propagation
• Structural equation model

---

Notes

---

Further reading

---

Books and book chapters

• David Barber (2026). 9780521518147, Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521518147

• Christopher M. Bishop (2026). 9780387310732, Springer. . ISBN 9780387310732
• Cowell, Robert G. (1999). 9780387987675, Springer. ISBN 9780387987675
  A more advanced and statistically oriented book
• Jensen, Finn (1996). 9780387915029, Springer. ISBN 9780387915029
• Judea Pearl (1988). 9781558604797, Morgan Kaufmann. . ISBN 9781558604797
  A computational reasoning approach, where the relationships between graphs and probabilities were formally introduced.

---

Journal articles

---

Other

• Heckerman's Bayes Net Learning Tutorial
• A Brief Introduction to Graphical Models and Bayesian Networks
• Sargur Srihari's lecture slides on probabilistic graphical models

---

External links

• Graphical models and Conditional Random Fields
• Probabilistic Graphical Models taught by Eric Xing at CMU

Categories: Bayesian Statistics

Post Comment