What is the process of examining historical data to identify trends over time called?

The process of examining historical data to identify trends over time is known as trend analysis. This method involves analyzing past data sets to discern patterns, movements, or changes that can help anticipate future developments. By evaluating this data, professionals can make data-driven decisions, assess performance, spot potential issues, and forecast future trends based on the observed history.

Trend analysis specifically focuses on identifying and interpreting trends within data, which may involve using various statistical techniques to chart the changes over time. This differentiates it from data mining, which is more about discovering patterns that may not be immediately obvious, or from statistical review and historical research, which may be broader or less focused on time-based trends. By honing in on the concept of trends, trend analysis plays a crucial role in fields such as health informatics, where understanding the evolution of health data can guide strategic planning and improve patient outcomes.