Methods and apparatus are provided for determining equivalence and generalization of a network model. A method is provided for determining whether two networks are equivalent. A model of at least two networks is obtained, and then simplified using one or more normal form rules. A test is then performed to determine if the two simplified network models are equivalent (e.g., isomorphic). A first network M is said to be generalized by a second network N, M≦N, if every test that satisfies M also satisfies N. A first network M is said to be equivalent to a second network N, N≡M, if M generalizes N and N generalizes M.