From Questions to Data
EVIDENCE LAB · 01
From Questions
to Data.
Good analysis begins before the dataset. Learn to turn a policy concern into a measurable, answerable economic question.
MEASURECOMPAREINFER
FOUNDATION
A dataset cannot rescue
a vague question.
An economic question identifies a population, an outcome, a possible cause, a place and a period. It can be investigated with observable evidence—and it makes clear what comparison would change our mind.
“Does inflation hurt people?”
Undefined people · undefined harm · no period
“How did food-price inflation affect real expenditure among low-income Greek households from 2021–2025?”
Population · outcome · exposure · place · time
The question determines the data—not the other way around. If a variable cannot be observed directly, define a defensible proxy and state its limitations.
RESEARCH DESIGN SIMULATOR
Build your
evidence question.
Complete the five elements. Your research brief will assemble automatically.
Your policy concern will appear here.
- Unit
- Households
- Outcome
- Not yet defined
- Possible cause
- Not yet defined
- Evidence source
- Not yet defined
TESTABLE HYPOTHESISDefine the outcome and explanatory factor to generate a hypothesis.
✓ Your question is ready for operational definition and data collection.
KNOWLEDGE CHECK
