What is an empirical article?
Empirical research is a research project that is done with scientific intent. This also means that the articles are going to be found in scholarly, peer-reviewed journals. The best way to determine if an article is an empirical article is to read the abstract and look for the following items.
- There is a hypothesis, a research question, or well-stated line of inquiry.
- An empirical article includes a literature review in order for the researcher to understand the topic.
- Data was collected in a systematic and organized way, and the research method is clearly explained.
- Examples of data collection can include
- Experimental data
- Interviews
- Collecting data from governmental sources
- There is a review of the findings, including a discussion or analysis about how the information may compare with other reports.
What is not an empirical article?
Sometimes articles in a scholarly, peer-reviewed journal is not an empirical article. Skim the article and check for the following:
- A review of other research papers and scholarly literature.
- A summary of other people's work with no additional data or original new information.
- A review of a book, film, database, or other item. These are often three pages or fewer.
- A statement of an opinion or reflection on a current event, such as an editorial, a guest editorial, an opinion, or a letter to the editor.
Read more: Empirical Research
