This research guide is intended to serve as a starting point for users who are looking for data sets and will facilitate evaluating those sources to ensure that they locate credible sources.
Purpose
The aim of this document is to help you decide your term project topic, form your research question(s), and check out the related databases links to confirm the existing data and its relevance to your selected research topic and question(s). Identifying a research question pertaining to the data sources provided may be the easiest, however, it could be the other way around. You may have a very specific research question, for instance factors influencing inflation. You can determine these factors from the existing literature and the media and then check the data sources below whether relevant data exists.
Sources for datasets
Please select data from the sites and links provided below which have been validated and are trusted sources of data/information. This information is also available on Canvas under Library Guides.
For questions regarding the websites or you need further assistance searching within a site, contact our LCOB Librarian Regina Beard (rmbeard@fgcu.edu). Please include a reference to this class in the email subject line and details of what you are looking for.
Sample size
As a rule of thumb, at any given time, 100 records or data points are needed. The exceptions to this would be the unavailability of data for some of your variables or indicators. In that case, the minimum sample size can range between and 30 and 50 data points.
The frequency of data
Whether it is collected annually, monthly, quarterly, or weekly needs to be considered to determine whether you meet the sample size rule.
So, generally,
Collection rule
Above is true for all your variables. For instance, if you want to determine the relationship between Sales and Labor force, for each of these variables you will need the same amount of data points with the same frequency and within the same time frame. For example, you need data points from 1980 to 2022 collected quarterly for both sales and labor force. This is true whether from the same database or a from two different sources. (ex. FRED and EIA are different databases).
Further
The data source will indicate whether data is seasonally adjusted or not, or given in today’s dollars. Make sure you have this information marked on your file. Use always the seasonally adjusted and indexed data. This is especially important when you use data over a big span of time, such as 1920-2022. Also, in most cases, data may need to be studied in chunks, divided into smaller time frames: last five years, 10 years, or separated based on certain milestones and crises.
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)
Economic Indicators for US and per States
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (state employment statistics)
Under Current Employment Statistics (CES) you will find Historical Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (1990-2021). Look for the dropdown menu in the center of page. Earnings (1998-2021).
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)
U.S. Real estate
*Check Census-defined regions to see how the Census defines a region.
This short tutorial demonstrates how to find stock prices and financial statements in Mergent Online. Copy and paste it into your browser: https://www.screencast.com/t/3yINPF4gDk
U.S. Energy Information Agency (EIA) – energy sources, energy consumption, energy prices, and energy production.
Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Sales and production of hybrid-electric, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicle manufacture
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
Wages & Salaries per full-time equivalent employee (FTE) by industry. This information is spread over four tables under Section 6 (Income and Employment by Industry) 6.6A (1929-1948); 6.6B (1948-1987); 6.6C (1987-2000); and 6.6D (1998-2020)
