Once you have located a journal article on your topic, you will need to assess the article to see if it is, in fact, an empirical study.
Ask yourself:
1. Does the article review other studies that have been published?
If yes – is this previously published data all the evidence used to reach the conclusion presented?
If the answer is yes – this is some type of review article (e.g., literature review) and not an empirical study
If you answered no – go on to further questions.
2. Does the article use data from another source (e.g. Statistics Canada or other researchers) and analyze that data?
If yes – was additional data gathered after the analysis was done?
If no – this is a meta-analysis and is not usually considered an empirical study.
If yes – go to further questions.
3. Does the article contain the following sections:
Objectives/Theory - is there a statement of what the authors wanted to investigate or find out?
Methodology - was a study done? If yes:
Does the article include the number (e.g., n=240) and type of population studied (e.g., rats in a maze, military personnel returning from overseas)?
Are terms such as: "case study," "survey," "observation," "questionnaire," and "assessment" used?
Were the people studied in "matched groups" or "randomly selected"?
Was there a "double blind process" (i.e., assignment to groups or treatments is unknown to those participating in the study or administering the treatment)?
Results - does the article analyze results found in a study, through observation, and/or by experiment?
Conclusion - brings together of the results to form a logical conclusion. This may be that the treatment or intervention failed, or that the premise of the study was correct.
If you said yes to most of the questions listed in item 3, this is an empirical study.
Once you have located a journal article on your topic, you will need to assess the article to see if it is, in fact, an empirical study. Use the flow chart below to help you determine if the article is an empirical study. If you said yes to most of the questions, then your article is likely an empirical study.
Empirical research is based on
The data gathered may be compared against a theory or hypothesis, but the results are still based on real-life experience.
The data gathered is all primary, although secondary data from a literature review may form the theoretical background.
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In the detailed article record...