What type of data analysis focuses on the timing of events or changes?

Time series analysis is specifically designed to analyze data points collected or recorded at specific time intervals. This type of analysis is particularly effective for examining trends, cycles, and forecasting future values based on historical data. It allows analysts to identify patterns over time, making it suitable for applications such as stock market analysis, economic forecasting, and monitoring changes in behavior or conditions over a timeline.

Cross-sectional analysis examines data at a single point in time rather than over a period, which makes it less applicable when focusing on the timing of events. Qualitative analysis typically involves non-numerical data to understand concepts or themes, without a direct emphasis on time-related changes. Meta-analysis involves combining results from multiple studies to identify patterns or effects, but it also does not focus on the timing of individual events.

In contrast, time series analysis uniquely allows for an in-depth understanding of how data evolves over time, making it the most appropriate choice for this question.