Distinguish types of articles found in scholarly journals. Your professor might ask you to find a specific type of scholarly article and now you can be confident in your selection.
Empirical articles are those in which authors report on their own study. The authors will have collected data to answer a research question. Empirical research contains observed and measured examples that inform or answer the research question. The data can be collected in a variety of ways such as interviews, surveys, questionnaires, observations, and various other quantitative and qualitative research methods.
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, orphenomena 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
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
General Advice
Plan to read the article more than once
Don't read it all the way through in one sitting, read strategically first.
Take notes
Identify relevant conclusions and limitations of study
Abstract: Get a sense of the article’s purpose and findings. Use it to assess if the article is useful for your research.
Skim: Review headings to understand the structure and label parts if needed.
Introduction/Literature Review: Identify the main argument, problem, previous work, proposed next steps, and hypothesis.
Methodology: Understand data collection methods, data sources, and variables.
Findings/Results: Examine tables and figures to see if they support the hypothesis without relying on captions.
Discussion/Conclusion: Determine if the findings support the argument/hypothesis and if the authors acknowledge any limitations.
Anatomy of a Research Paper by Richard D. Branson published in Respir Care. 2004 October; 49(10): 1222–1228.
Compare your article to this table to help determine you have located an empirical study/research report.
Look for the following words in the title/abstract: empirical, experiment, research, or study.
Section
Defintion
Abstract
A short synopsis of the article’s content
Introduction
Need and rational of this particular research project with research question, statement, and hypothesis.
Literature Review (sometimes included in the Introduction)
Supporting their ideas with other scholarly research
Methods
Describes the methodology including a description of the participants, and a description of the research method, measure, research design, or approach to data analysis.
Results or Findings
Uses narrative, charts, tables, graphs, or other graphics to describe the findings of the paper
Discussion/Conclusion/Implications
Provides a discussion, summary, or conclusion, bringing together the research question, statement,
References
References all the articlesdiscussed and cited in the paper- mostly in the literature or results sections