Psychology

Empirical research is based on observed and measured phenomena and derives knowledge from actual experience rather than from theory or belief.

How do you know if a study is empirical? Read the subheadings within the article, book, or report and look for a description of the research methodology. Ask yourself: Could I recreate this study and test these results?

Key characteristics to look for:

• Specific research questions to be answered

• Definition of the population, behavior, or phenomena being studied

• Description of the process used to study this population or phenomena, including selection criteria, controls, and testing instruments (such as surveys)

Another hint: some scholarly journals use a specific layout, called the "IMRaD" format, to communicate empirical research findings. Such articles typically have 4 components:

• Introduction: sometimes called literature review -- what is currently known about the topic -- usually includes a theoretical framework and/or discussion of previous studies
• Methodology: sometimes called research design -- how to recreate the study -- usually describes the population, research process, and analytical tools
• Results: sometimes called findings -- what was learned through the study -- usually appears as statistical data or as substantial quotations from research participants
• Discussion: sometimes called conclusion or implications -- why the study is important -- usually describes how the research results influence professional practices or future studies

Empirical research is published in scholarly, peer-reviewed journals and in books.  Some library databases do not have a straightforward way to limit to empirical research. 

PsycINFO includes a Methodology filter to limit results to empirical research studies.

How to do it:

Type your keywords into the search boxes, as below, and click Search:

At the results page, under Refine Results, scroll down to Methodology and click the box next to Empirical Study:

Search results will update after you check the box next to empirical study. You may also want to limit by publication date or source type.