Extendedoften

Extendedoften is a neologism used in data analysis and time-series discussions to describe a metric that captures how regularly an event occurs over an extended observation window. It is not a standardized statistical term, but appears in informal discussions and some niche writings on temporal patterns in data. The word blends extended and often to convey persistence or sustained frequency across a longer horizon than typical short-term frequency measures.

Definition and concept

Extendedoften aims to quantify the persistence of an event beyond a baseline observation period. In practice, it is usually implemented as a proportion or rate computed over a rolling or fixed window of length W. Depending on the data, it can be defined as the proportion of time units within the window in which the event occurs (a binary indicator per unit), or as the average value of a binary event indicator across the window. The choice of window length and the data’s granularity determine the interpretation of the metric.

Calculation and interpretation

For binary time-series data, extendedoften can be computed as the number of time units with a positive event divided by the window length, using a moving window if desired. A higher extendedoften value suggests more sustained activity over the window. Analysts use the metric to compare behavior across subjects, periods, or cohorts and to detect shifts in long-term recurrence patterns.

Limitations and related terms

Because the metric depends on the chosen window, comparisons require consistent windowing. It is related to, but distinct from, general frequency, long-term prevalence, and rolling averages. Extendedoften is most useful as a descriptive aid rather than as a standardized inferential statistic.

See also: frequency, time-series analysis, rolling window, persistence.