Fig. 4From: Generative models of online discussion threads: state of the art and research challengesModeling approach considered in this review: the model (box in the middle) represents a mechanism or procedure that describes how discussion threads are formed. It is usually governed by a set of parameters θ which are typically learned from real data composed of real discussion threads. This learning step involves some type of optimization. For given parameters θ, the model can be used to generate synthetic threads that reproduce the properties of the real discussion threadsBack to article page