EDU 700: Educational Research for Thesis Research Project: What is Empirical Research?

Empirical research articles report on research based on actual observations or experiments. This type of research may make use of either a quantitative or qualitative research design. Quantitative research is research which generates numerical data and looks to create relationships between two or more variables. Qualitative research looks to critically and objectively analyze behaviors, beliefs, feelings, or values. 

Key characteristics of empirical research articles include: specific research questions, definition of a problem, behavior, or phenomenon, a complete description of the process used to study the population or phenomenon, including selection criteria, controls, as well as a description of the instruments used such as interviews, tests or surveys. 

Empirical articles normally include the following elements:

1. An Introduction: The Introduction provides a brief summary of the research.

2. Methodology: The methodology describes how the research was conducted -- including who the participants are, how they were selected, the steps taken to design the study, what the participants did, and the types of measurements used. 

3. Results: The results section describes the outcomes of the measures of the study.

4. Discussion: The discussion section contains interpretation and implications of the study.

5. Conclusion

6. References

Note: Empirical research articles may combine these elements so that one section of the paper may handle two or three of these areas at once.

Empirical research articles are usually lengthy (>7 pages) and can be difficult to read -- particularly if you are not a practitioner in the field of study in which they are written. Whenever you are in doubt always speak to your professor or ask a librarian for advice.