Using Real Datasets for Interdisciplinary Business/Economics Projects

Abstract

The workplace's global and dynamic nature allows and requires improved approaches for providing business and economics education. In this article, the authors explore ways of enhancing students' understanding of course material by using nontraditional, real-world datasets of particular interest to them. Teaching at a historically Black university, the authors used one such database, the ING Gazelle Index, which measures the business confidence of small, fast-growing African-American firms. Instructors reviewed student papers based on this Index and analyzed a postproject survey taken by the students. There are a variety of lesser-known economic indices and other data sources that can be used in a similar manner.