Semantic and Structural Perspectives on Node Importance: A Combined Classical–LLM Approach

Levent Sabah; Zeynep Bozdoğan; Resul Kara

doi:10.29130/dubited.1795730

TR EN

Düğüm Önemine İlişkin Semantik ve Yapısal Perspektifler: Klasik ve LLM Yaklaşımının Birleştirilmesi

Abstract

Karmaşık ağlardaki düğüm önemine ilişkin araştırmalar, klasik merkezilik ölçütleri, entropi tabanlı ölçümler ve çeşitli makine öğrenme modelleri de dahil olmak üzere geniş bir yelpazede yaklaşımlardan yararlanmaya devam etmektedir. Önceki çalışmalar, entropi odaklı ve öğrenme tabanlı tekniklerin, bilgi yayılımı veya sağlamlık analizi gibi görevler için daha yüksek doğruluk ve daha hızlı yakınsama sağladığını sıklıkla bildirmektedir; ancak bu sonuçlar veri kümesine ve her yöntemin varsayımlarına bağlı olarak değişebilir. Daha az araştırılan konu ise, bu tekniklerin, yapısal verilerde doğrudan görünmeyen düğümlerin bağlamsal veya anlamsal özelliklerini ne ölçüde hesaba kattığıdır. Bu çalışmada, yerleşik merkezilik ölçütlerini büyük bir dil modeli (LLM) tarafından üretilen değerlendirmelerle birleştirerek bu boşluğu gidermek için hibrit bir çerçeve sunulmaktadır. Yaklaşım, Zachary'nin Karate Kulübü, Krackhardt Uçurtma Grafiği ve Caz Müzisyenleri Ağı gibi iyi bilinen birkaç kıyaslama ağında incelenmiş ve elde edilen sıralamalar, düğümler arasında daha net bir ayrım ve birçok durumda, tamamen yapısal temellerden daha yorumlanabilir kalıplar göstermiştir. Bu bulguları daha geniş literatür içinde konumlandırmak için, sonuçlar, bileşik veya entropi tabanlı merkezilik formülasyonlarını kullanan üç önceki çalışma ile karşılaştırıldı. Ölçeklenebilirliği araştırmak için, SNAP deposundan üç büyük işbirliği ağı da değerlendirildi. Genel kanıtlar, özellikle yapısal bilginin tek başına eksik bir tablo sunduğu durumlarda, LLM destekli puanlamanın karmaşık ağ analizi için tamamlayıcı bir bakış açısı sunabileceğini göstermektedir.

Keywords

Karmaşık ağ, Merkezilik ölçütü, Büyük dil modeli, Düğüm önemi

Semantic and Structural Perspectives on Node Importance: A Combined Classical–LLM Approach

Abstract

Research on node importance in complex networks continues to draw on a wide range of approaches, including classical centrality metrics, entropy-based measures, and various machine-learning models. Previous studies often reports that entropy-driven and learning-based techniques yield higher accuracy and faster convergence for tasks such as information spreading or robustness analysis, although these results can vary depending on the dataset and the assumptions of each method. What remains less explored is the extent to which these techniques account for the contextual or semantic characteristics of nodes, which are not directly visible in structural data. In this study, a hybrid framework is introduced to address this gap by combining established centrality metrics with evaluations produced by a large language model (LLM). The approach was examined on several well-known benchmark networks—Zachary’s Karate Club, the Krackhardt Kite Graph, and the Jazz Musicians Network—and the resulting rankings showed clearer separation among nodes and, in many cases, more interpretable patterns than the purely structural baselines. To situate these findings within the broader literature, results were compared with three prior studies that employ composite or entropy-based centrality formulations. To explore scalability, three larger collaboration networks from the SNAP repository were also evaluated. The overall evidence suggests that LLM-supported scoring may offer a complementary perspective for complex network analysis, especially when structural information alone provides an incomplete picture.

Keywords

Complex network, Centrality measure, Large language model, Node importance

Supporting Institution

This research received no external funding.

Ethical Statement

This study does not involve human or animal participants. All procedures followed scientific and ethical principles, and all referenced studies are appropriately cited.

Thanks

No acknowledgment statement is included in the manuscript.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Context Learning, Deep Learning, Machine Learning Algorithms

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Levent Sabah ^*
0000-0002-6911-4749
Türkiye

Zeynep Bozdoğan
0009-0007-6028-6951
Türkiye

Resul Kara
0000-0001-8902-6837
Türkiye

Publication Date

January 21, 2026

Submission Date

October 2, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 15, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 14 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.29130/dubited.1795730

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA85PK88GK

APA

Sabah, L., Bozdoğan, Z., & Kara, R. (2026). Semantic and Structural Perspectives on Node Importance: A Combined Classical–LLM Approach. Duzce University Journal of Science and Technology, 14(1), 225-239. https://doi.org/10.29130/dubited.1795730

AMA

1.Sabah L, Bozdoğan Z, Kara R. Semantic and Structural Perspectives on Node Importance: A Combined Classical–LLM Approach. DUBİTED. 2026;14(1):225-239. doi:10.29130/dubited.1795730

Chicago

Sabah, Levent, Zeynep Bozdoğan, and Resul Kara. 2026. “Semantic and Structural Perspectives on Node Importance: A Combined Classical–LLM Approach”. Duzce University Journal of Science and Technology 14 (1): 225-39. https://doi.org/10.29130/dubited.1795730.

EndNote

Sabah L, Bozdoğan Z, Kara R (January 1, 2026) Semantic and Structural Perspectives on Node Importance: A Combined Classical–LLM Approach. Duzce University Journal of Science and Technology 14 1 225–239.

IEEE

[1]L. Sabah, Z. Bozdoğan, and R. Kara, “Semantic and Structural Perspectives on Node Importance: A Combined Classical–LLM Approach”, DUBİTED, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 225–239, Jan. 2026, doi: 10.29130/dubited.1795730.

ISNAD

Sabah, Levent - Bozdoğan, Zeynep - Kara, Resul. “Semantic and Structural Perspectives on Node Importance: A Combined Classical–LLM Approach”. Duzce University Journal of Science and Technology 14/1 (January 1, 2026): 225-239. https://doi.org/10.29130/dubited.1795730.

JAMA

1.Sabah L, Bozdoğan Z, Kara R. Semantic and Structural Perspectives on Node Importance: A Combined Classical–LLM Approach. DUBİTED. 2026;14:225–239.

MLA

Sabah, Levent, et al. “Semantic and Structural Perspectives on Node Importance: A Combined Classical–LLM Approach”. Duzce University Journal of Science and Technology, vol. 14, no. 1, Jan. 2026, pp. 225-39, doi:10.29130/dubited.1795730.

Vancouver

1.Levent Sabah, Zeynep Bozdoğan, Resul Kara. Semantic and Structural Perspectives on Node Importance: A Combined Classical–LLM Approach. DUBİTED. 2026 Jan. 1;14(1):225-39. doi:10.29130/dubited.1795730

Düğüm Önemine İlişkin Semantik ve Yapısal Perspektifler: Klasik ve LLM Yaklaşımının Birleştirilmesi

Abstract

Keywords

Semantic and Structural Perspectives on Node Importance: A Combined Classical–LLM Approach

Abstract

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Ethical Statement

Thanks

References

Details

Primary Language

Subjects

Journal Section

Authors

Publication Date

Submission Date

Acceptance Date

Published in Issue

DOI

IZ

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