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Glite Dictionary
empirical research

empirical research

2 3.7
A study that uses observation or experiments to learn facts
  • noun
  • /ɪmˈpɪrɪkəl rɪˈsɜːrʧ/
  • Formal
translation icon : investigación empírica
  • To date, little empirical research has been conducted to confirm that these benefits exist.
  • empirical research supports
  • conduct empirical research
  • lack of empirical research

So do we have sort of empirical research to to back this up or are we still finding our way forward?

Examples

  • Less than half of the articles examined were pieces of empirical research.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Indeed, results of empirical research are partly interpreted in the light of the underlying models used.

    Academic text (1992)

  • So do we have sort of empirical research to to back this up or are we still finding our way forward?

    StarTalk

  • To date, however, little empirical research has been conducted to test these arguments.

    Academic text (2008)

  • Conventional wisdom and empirical research point to the relationship between time spent reading and reading achievement.

    Academic text (1991)

  • In evidence for practice, school librarians use empirical research to inform practice.

    Academic text (2015)

  • Thus, this investigation was designed to address limitations noted in prior empirical research with instructional models.

    Academic text (1994)

  • Our goal was to conduct unbiased, empirical research on exceptional human abilities.

    The Atticus Institute (2015)

  • Unfortunately, there is a dearth of empirical research to substantiate what many of these teachers have experienced.

    Academic text (1999)

  • The scientist published several articles based on empirical research that supported her theories.

Synonyms

scientific research
vsempirical research
  • Specialized
32 3.4

A careful study in science to find facts and new ideas

relies on direct observation or experiments rather than theory

How Evidence-Based

empirical research
  • Formal
2 3.7
research
∞ 3.4

Surface Forms

empirical research singular
empirical researches plural

Morphology

empirical + research

The meaning 'research based on observation, experience, or experiment' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'empirical' (grounded in practical experience) with 'research' (organized investigation). This adjective+noun composition is literal and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would be expected to understand the MWE.

Etymology

Empirical research comes from the idea of learning by seeing and doing. In empirical research scientists watch, measure, or test things and write down what happens, so the phrase means 'research based on observation or experiment'.