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Course 212 · Work course 82

Research a Business Market with Public Data

Practice a fictional market-research file with population/geography definitions, public-data source cards, a bounded customer-count range, contrary evidence and a demand-test question.

Before you start

Use the supplied fictional records on paper or in a local document. Keep drafts unsent and original files in your own software.

Understand Statistics in Everyday Claims See everything you’ll need

Free download · Original practice data · No external account required. Download the starter pack

What you’ll leave with

A fictional market-research file with population/geography definitions, public-data source cards, a bounded customer-count range, contrary evidence and a demand-test question.

Start course Start without an account. Sign in to save lesson progress across devices.

Your project

Start with the practice files. Build your project one lesson at a time.

Practice files are free without an account. Sign in to save your project record in My Proof: a description, checklist, and optional work link. Keep the original files in your own app or notebook; saving a project record does not upload them.

  1. Get your materialsDownload practice filesSupplied practice cases, a blank working record, complete lesson instructions, and annotated worked examples.
  2. Make your projectView the project checklist Work in your own notebook, document, or software. Use the supplied practice examples when you prefer.
  3. Keep a private recordSave a project record Sign in to save a description and checklist, then return to update them.
Course handbook

Know the route before you begin.

Here’s what you’ll need and what you’ll make. You can return to this guide during any lesson.

Who this is for

Learners ages 14+ exploring how organizations coordinate useful work. No job or organization role is required.

Prepare before lesson one
  • Use the supplied fictional records on paper or in a local document. Keep drafts unsent and original files in your own software.
  • The linked foundation is recommended preparation; core practice here does not require an account, payment, partner or real learner information.
Your final project

Finish with proof you can use.

A fictional market-research file with population/geography definitions, public-data source cards, a bounded customer-count range, contrary evidence and a demand-test question.

Save a project record in My Proof
See project checklist and review criteria

Keep your working files in your own notebook or software. Save a private description, checklist, and work link in My Proof.

What to include

  • Define the target unit, behavior, geography and time period using the supplied cards.
  • Create source cards and reject mismatched geographic, time or mixed-unit comparisons.
  • Reproduce200 target people,180–220 population bounds and18–55 hypothetical participation.
  • Separate invented inputs, assumptions, official methods and unobserved demand.
  • Include free alternatives, limited comments and an unsent bounded next validation question.

Review and revise

Use these criteria to check your work and choose what to improve.

  • Counts use compatible units and explicitly nonoverlapping geography.
  • Source cards distinguish observation period, publication date and unsupported trends.
  • Scenario arithmetic is reproducible and is not mislabeled as observed demand or a formal confidence interval.
  • The next-step recommendation includes contrary evidence and requires no external sale or contact.
Three ideas to help you along the way
Three useful ideas

The rules behind the steps.

01

Define before counting

A market boundary is a unit, population, geography and period, not the largest available number.

02

Keep scenarios visible

A correct calculation can still rest on an unverified assumption.

03

Look for disconfirmation

Existing alternatives and missing demand evidence belong in the brief alongside a possible opportunity.

What do these words mean?
Key words

Key terms worth knowing.

Target population
People or organizations fitting the specifically stated offer and reach boundary.
Establishment
A location-based business unit whose exact definition depends on the source table.
Observation period
The span of time represented by a measure, distinct from its release date.
Scenario range
Results calculated from openly stated hypothetical input bounds.
Demand evidence
Observed relevant choices or purchases with their population and method limitations.
Your route

6 lessons.
One useful project.

Work in order the first time. Each lesson makes something the next lesson can use.

  1. 1
    Up next

    Define a market without counting everyone

    Define the target person and reachable geography before adding population counts.

  2. 2
    12 min

    Read geography population and date boundaries

    Create source cards preserving geography, observation period, publication date and unit.

  3. 3
    14 min

    Compare supplied public-data measures

    Distinguish people, establishments and nonemployer business measures before using them.

  4. 4
    14 min

    Calculate a transparent plausible-customer range

    Calculate a transparent population and purchase-scenario range without presenting it as observed demand.

  5. 5
    14 min

    Separate size from willingness to buy

    Use secondary evidence to pose a testable demand question and preserve contrary explanations.

  6. 6
    19 min

    Write a market brief and next validation question

    Assemble a bounded market brief that separates source inputs, assumptions, results and the next evidence gap.

Use the tools

Tools to help you practice.

See all tools
ZIP · practice files

Research a Business Market with Public Data practice files

Supplied practice cases, a blank working record, complete lesson instructions, and annotated worked examples.

Text worksheet

Your course project worksheet

A downloadable text worksheet with each lesson’s working output, space for your answers, and the shared final-project checklist. Save your own copy.

Source transparency

Sources and further study.

Explore the references behind the lessons and take your learning further. Source notes explain access and reuse.

SBA — market research and competitive analysis
Source & access notes · checked 2026-10-01

This official reference supports the mapped concepts. The supplied exercise inputs and operating rules are original fictional practice, not universal legal requirements or qualification evidence.

Access: redirected current official planning page; market-research section read on 2026-10-01; external resources are optional.

Reuse: Original fictional teaching and practice; source concepts paraphrased and linked, with no copied provider exercises.

U.S. Census Bureau — business-data measures and uses
Source & access notes · checked 2026-10-01

This official reference supports the mapped concepts. The supplied exercise inputs and operating rules are original fictional practice, not universal legal requirements or qualification evidence.

Access: readable official market-data guidance on 2026-10-01; external resources are optional.

Reuse: Original fictional teaching and practice; source concepts paraphrased and linked, with no copied provider exercises.

U.S. Census Bureau — one-year and five-year estimate guidance
Source & access notes · checked 2026-10-01

This official reference supports the mapped concepts. The supplied exercise inputs and operating rules are original fictional practice, not universal legal requirements or qualification evidence.

Access: readable official estimate-period guidance on 2026-10-01; external resources are optional.

Reuse: Original fictional teaching and practice; source concepts paraphrased and linked, with no copied provider exercises.

FTC — evidence for marketing claims
Source & access notes · checked 2026-10-01

This official reference supports the mapped concepts. The supplied exercise inputs and operating rules are original fictional practice, not universal legal requirements or qualification evidence.

Access: readable official guidance on 2026-10-01; external resources are optional.

Reuse: Original fictional teaching and practice; source concepts paraphrased and linked, with no copied provider exercises.

Ready when you are

Start with the first useful move.

You’ll always know what to do, what to make, and where to go next.

Start lesson one