Ad hoc analysis refers to a type of data analysis that is performed on the spot to answer specific, immediate questions, rather than following a pre-planned analysis strategy. These analyses are often exploratory and flexible but can carry risks if they are not interpreted cautiously.
For example, after completing a study on employee productivity, a researcher might run an additional unplanned analysis to see if results differ by department. While potentially insightful, these findings should be considered tentative because they were not part of the original study design.
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