Data Structure
Longitudinal (Panel) Data
Panel data observe the same people, facilities, or other units repeatedly over time.
Page 1 of 7 · Big Picture
The big picture: Longitudinal (Panel) Data
What changes within the same unit?
Why a policy analyst should care
Following the same people, hospitals, or states separates within-unit change from differences between units, but repeated observations also create dependence that the analysis must respect.
Follow the idea from the opening question to a practical decision. These are the conceptual moves this module will develop:
1 Question What changes within the same unit?
2 Explore People observed over several waves
3 Formalize Unit and time indexes
4 Transfer Specify a panel analysis
Use the left and right arrow keys to move between pages.