Psychology

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Go to All Subjects, select Social Sciences and Psychology, select APA PsycArticles

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In 'Select a Field' , select MR Methodology and type in empirical study or empirical research

NOTE: You can search for empirical research articles in many databases by including the phrases ("empirical research" OR "empirical study") and limiting to peer-reviewed articles. You can also include specific types of empirical research in your search, such as ("qualitative research" OR "quantitative research").

What is Empirical Research

Empirical research is based on observed and measured phenomena and derives knowledge from actual experience rather than from theory or belief. This simply means that the author(s) actually carried out the study. The results are based on real life experience and original research.

How do you know if a study is empirical?

• Look for a description of the research "methodology."
• Look at the journal title. Empirical articles are found in journals such as: Journal of Educational Research or the Journal of Educational Psychology. You will never find empirical articles in magazines like Newsweek or Time.
• Check for the page numbers.  An empirical article is normally over 10 pages long not one or two pages.
• Ask yourself: Could I recreate this study and test these results?

Key characteristics to look for:

• Title: Describes the research and has the author’s name
• Abstract: A short but comprehensive summary of the research
• Introduction: sometimes called "literature review" -- what is currently known about the topic -- usually includes a theoretical framework and/or discussion of previous studies, and develops the hypotheses for the research.
• Methodology: sometimes called "methods" or "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. Empirical articles will include charts, graphs, or statistical analysis.
• Discussion: sometimes called "conclusion" or "implications" -- why the study is important -- usually describes how the research results influence professional practices or future studies.
• References or Works Cited or Bibliography -this section contains information about the articles and books cited in the report and should be substantial.

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