Which analytical approach focuses on identifying what is happening currently?

Descriptive analysis is the analytical approach that emphasizes understanding and summarizing the current state of data. This type of analysis provides insights into what has happened, capturing key metrics and patterns from historical data. It allows analysts to report on metrics such as averages, totals, and trends over time, helping stakeholders understand the present circumstances of a dataset.

This differs from other approaches like predictive modeling, which is aimed at using historical data to forecast future events, and data mining, which focuses on discovering patterns or relationships within large datasets. Gap analysis, on the other hand, compares current performance with desired outcomes, leading to actionable insights for improvement but not focusing solely on the current state of affairs. Thus, descriptive analysis is key to gaining insight into current happenings, providing a foundational understanding necessary for further analysis and decision-making.