Psychology 124: Empirical Research Essay

Empirical Research consists of experiments that rely on observation and measurement. Empirical research uses specific methods to test out theories and hypotheses (expectations) using real data instead of hunches or observations. This type of research is easily identifiable as it always consists of the following pieces of information:

• A distinct research question (usually in the abstract)
• A clear "Methods" section that can be replicated for others wanting to do the experiment
• A conclusion based on the data collected from the methods used

This Guide will serve to offer a basic understanding on how to approach empirical research via Reading the Empirical Research Paper, Designing Empirical Research, and Writing an Empirical Paper.