BUS 425: Data Analytics

The ideal dataset will have:

a)       a large number of numerical (interval, ratio) and categorical (ordinal, nominal) fields;

b)      a large number of cases (e.g., at least 250, ideally over 1,000);

c)       data fields that can act as independent variables (typically demographic, descriptive, or situational variables) and dependent variables (typically indicators of impacts, outcomes, or performance);

d)      a sufficient range of variables (i.e., characteristics, attitudes, behaviours) that allow you to develop a variety of hypotheses (or guesses) as to what relates to what; and

e)      data relevant to a business context, either for-profit or not-for-profit (at the event, customer, organization, or industry level).

 Non-business or business data that has a faith or religious element (e.g., data on faith-based organizations, religious attitudes) would also be an interesting option. Students are welcomed to discuss with the instructor any data that may not fit the above description. Non-business data are acceptable as long as the data allow for developing hypotheses and analyzing relationships on topics that are of interest to a general audience (e.g., social issues, public attitudes, economic trends).