how to read an empirical research article

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How do i know if a research article is empirical.

Empirical research draws from observed or measured phenomena and derives knowledge from actual experimentation or observation. Empirical research articles are considered original, primary research. In these types of articles, readers will generally find the following sections organized by IMRaD format (Introduction, Method, Results, and Discussion).

• (I)ntroduction : Includes the research hypotheses and the literature review (current research on or related to the topic).

• (M)ethods :   How the research was conducted, including participants, research design, and measures used.

• (R)esults : What did researchers learn from their study/experiment--this section may include statistical data and research participant quotes.

• (D)iscussion :  Research conclusions that state why the study was important and its impact on future research and/or practices.

Also check out:

How to find an empirical research article in PsycInfo  (video).

What are empirical research articles tutorial

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How to Recognize Empirical Journal Articles

An empirical research article reports the results of a study that used data derived from actual observation or experimentation. Empirical research articles are examples of primary research.

Parts of a standard empirical research article:  (articles will not necessary use the exact terms listed below.)

• Abstract  ... A paragraph length description of what the study includes.
• Introduction ...Includes a statement of the hypotheses for the research and a review of other research on the topic.
• Who are participants
• Design of the study
• What the participants did
• What measures were used
• Results ...Describes the outcomes of the measures of the study.
• Discussion ...Contains the interpretations and implications of the study.
• References ...Contains citation information on the material cited in the report. (also called bibliography or works cited)

Characteristics of an Empirical Article:

• Empirical articles will include charts, graphs, or statistical analysis.
• Empirical research articles are usually substantial, maybe from 8-30 pages long.
• There is always a bibliography found at the end of the article.

Type of publications that publish empirical studies:

• Empirical research articles are published in scholarly or academic journals
• These journals are also called “peer-reviewed,” or “refereed” publications.

Examples of such publications include:

• American Educational Research Journal
• Computers & Education
• Journal of Educational Psychology

Databases that contain empirical research:  (selected list only)

• List of other useful databases by subject area

Sample Empirical Articles

Roschelle, J., Feng, M., Murphy, R. F., & Mason, C. A. (2016). Online Mathematics Homework Increases Student Achievement. AERA Open .  ( L INK TO ARTICLE )

Lester, J., Yamanaka, A., & Struthers, B. (2016). Gender microaggressions and learning environments: The role of physical space in teaching pedagogy and communication.  Community College Journal of Research and Practice , 40(11), 909-926. ( LINK TO ARTICLE )

This page is adapted from Eric Karkhoff's  Sociology Research Guide: Identify Empirical Articles page (Cal State Fullerton Pollak Library).

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• Last Updated: Nov 14, 2024 12:18 PM
• URL: https://libguides.usc.edu/education

Reading Empirical Articles

Before trying this approach, we recommend that you read the Fundamentals of Efficient Reading for an overview of college-level reading strategies. The below strategy is specifically designed for reading science articles that report correlational or experimental research, such those generally assigned in STEM, sociology, and psychology courses.

Triple read the chapter 

• Why this works: By previewing the article a couple of times before diving in, you're building an outline in your mind that will make learning the content easier and more comfortable.
• ​​​​​​​ Page through the article, asking, “How is this organized?” (5 mins): Pay  attention to how the title of the article is expanded on in the abstract. Count the  figures and graphs. See if the Introduction, Method, Results, and Discussion sections have any sub-categories. Pay attention to these structural markers to start creating a framework in your mind.
• Now that you have the structure, determine the main message (5–15 mins): Be able to explain in a few sentences the hypotheses, method, and results—that is, the abstract—in your own words. The point is to grasp the core of the study and activate curiosity. If you self test at this point by writing down your own rough abstract, your grasp on the material will be strong.
• Read and write to meet your reading goal (duration depends on your goal and  available time): Next, estimate what pace you have to read at to meet your goal in the time window you have. Then, read to meet that goal. Write, type, or draw as needed to support your learning. Again, strengthen what you know by self testing in the last 10 minutes of your reading session. 

The triple-read strategy can really help you learn efficiently from articles. But it requires tolerating some discomfort, especially when you are just learning it. So, pat yourself on the back for any bit of it you add to your reading practice! You can keep re-reading these instructions throughout the quarter to really make deep, efficient reading a habit.

Download a pdf version of this page Reading Empirical Articles

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 License . You may reproduce it only for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: Center for Teaching and Learning, Stanford University. 

Check out our other Tips, Tools, & Resources

Penn State University Libraries

Empirical research in the social sciences and education.

• What is Empirical Research and How to Read It
• Finding Empirical Research in Library Databases
• Designing Empirical Research
• Ethics, Cultural Responsiveness, and Anti-Racism in Research
• Citing, Writing, and Presenting Your Work

Contact the Librarian at your campus for more help!

Introduction: 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. 

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 used in the present study
• 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

Reading and Evaluating Scholarly Materials

Reading research can be a challenge. However, the tutorials and videos below can help. They explain what scholarly articles look like, how to read them, and how to evaluate them:

• CRAAP Checklist A frequently-used checklist that helps you examine the currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose of an information source.
• IF I APPLY A newer model of evaluating sources which encourages you to think about your own biases as a reader, as well as concerns about the item you are reading.
• Credo Video: How to Read Scholarly Materials (4 min.)
• Credo Tutorial: How to Read Scholarly Materials
• Credo Tutorial: Evaluating Information
• Credo Video: Evaluating Statistics (4 min.)
• Credo Tutorial: Evaluating for Diverse Points of View
• Next: Finding Empirical Research in Library Databases >>
• Last Updated: Aug 13, 2024 3:16 PM
• URL: https://guides.libraries.psu.edu/emp

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Reading an Empirical Scholarly Article: Home

What is an empirical article.

Empirical journal articles detail the findings of a study conducted by the author or authors.  The study may be based on observation or research .  Empirical evidence is usually presented in a journal article using statistics, tables, charts or graphs. 

• Retinal structure and function in monkeys with fetal alcohol exposure
• Adolescents' perspectives on strengths-based group work and group cohesion in residential treatment for substance abuse
• The Effect of Education on Crime: Evidence from Prison Inmates, Arrests, and Self-Reports
• Anxiety about internet hacking: Results from a community sample

Structure of Article

A bstract-  Useful for Article Selection

• Provides a brief summary of the article.
• Included in it are the purpose of the article, the author's hypothesis/argument, and their findings. 

*Introduction/ Literature Review-  Article Selection and understanding what the article is about.

What is included may vary a bit.  May include:

• Article's purpose 
• What information they are trying to find out.
• What is already known on the topic.
• Review of previous relevant research on the topic.

*Methodology- Judging credibility of article and finding data/ techniques for your own research.

• Techniques used for experiment.
• How the research was designed.
• Sample size.
• What is control.                                                               

Findings/Results - Checking author's conclusion against actual results.

• Data as an of the analysis/research.
• Charts, Graphs Statistics

Discussion/ Conclusion- Interpreting the authors findings and how they fit into literature, implications for future research.

• restate the author's stance on the subject
• Prove or disprove the authors thesis.
• show how their particular argument fits into the existing literature
• sometimes propose new ideas for further research or thought.

  References/Works Cited/Bibliography- Finding similar resources, checking authors claims.

• At the end of any scholarly article will be a section entitled bibliography or works cited. In this you will find references to all of the sources and data that the author used to prove their point.

* Articles may call these different things.

How to Read an Empirical Article

General Advice

• Plan to read the article more than once
• Don't read it all the way through in one sitting, read strategically first.
• Identify relevant conclusions and limitations of study

1. Begin by reading the abstract to get a sense of the article's purpose and findings.  Remember this is not an in depth treatment of the article and should only be used as a means to determine if the article is useful for your research

2. Skim the article, read headings to identify article structure, some articles may be labeled with sections, so label the parts yourself.

3. Read the introduction/literature review, look for the main argument. Think about these questions: What problem are they trying to solve?  What has been done before? What do the authors believe needs to be done next?  What is the hypothesis?​

4. Read the methodology section.  How did they collect the data?  If analyzing data, where is the data coming from?  Can you identify the variables?

5. Examine the Findings/Results.  Look at tables and figures, see if you can determine what they found without reading the captions.  Based upon your examination, do the findings support the hypothesis/argument?

6. Read the Discussion/Conclusion. Do the author(s) believe that their findings support their argument/hypothesis?  Do they acknowledge limitations or issues with their research?

Further Reading/Sources

• Infographic: How to read a scientific paper, Elsevier
• How to Read a Scientific Article by Mary Purugganan & Jan Hewitt
• How to read and understand a scientific article by Jennifer Raff
• How to (seriously) read a scientific paper By Elisabeth Pain
• How to Read a Scientific Article by Mary Vance, Psychology Today
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Have an idea for a tutorial that we should make next? Let us know!

• Last Updated: Sep 27, 2021 11:49 AM
• URL: https://libguides.marist.edu/readingempiricalarticles

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Identifying Empirical Research Articles

• Identifying Empirical Articles
• Searching for Empirical Research Articles

Where to find empirical research articles

Finding empirical research.

When searching for empirical research, it can be helpful to use terms that relate to the method used in empirical research in addition to keywords that describe your topic. For example: 

• (generalized anxiety  AND  treatment*)  AND  (randomized clinical trial*  OR  clinical trial*)

You might also try using terms related to the type of instrument used:

• (generalized anxiety  AND  intervention*)  AND  (survey  OR  questionnaire)

You can also narrow your results to peer-review . Usually databases have a peer-review check box that you can select. To learn more about peer review, see our related guide:

• Understand Peer Review

Searching by Methodology

Some databases give you the option to do an advanced search by  methodology, where you can choose "empirical study" as a type. Here's an example from PsycInfo: 

Other filters includes things like document type, age group, population, language, and target audience. You can use these to narrow your search and get more relevant results.

Databasics: How to Filter by Methodology in ProQuest's PsycInfo + PsycArticles

Part of our Databasics YouTube series, this short video shows you how to limit by methodology in ProQuest's PsycInfo + PsycArticles database.

Attribution

Information in this guide adapted from Boston College Libraries' guide to " Finding Empirical Research "; Brandeis Library's " Finding Empirical Studies "; and CSUSM's " How do I know if a research article is empirical? "

• << Previous: Identifying Empirical Articles
• Last Updated: Nov 16, 2023 8:24 AM

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