Skip to Main Content
 

Empirical Research: Defining, Identifying, & Finding

What is empirical research, how do you recognize it, and how can you improve your searches to find it?

Introduction

The Introduction Section

The Introduction exists to explain the research project and to justify why this research has been done. The introduction will discuss: 

  • The topic covered by the research,
  • Previous research done on this topic,
  • What is still unknown about the topic that this research will answer, and
  • Why someone would want to know that answer.

What Criteria to Look For

The "Introduction" is where you are most likely to find the research question. 

Finding the Criteria

The research question may not be clearly labeled in the Introduction. Often, the author(s) may rephrase their question as a research statement or a hypothesis. Some research may have more than one research question or a research question with multiple parts. 

Words That May Signify the Research Question

These are some common word choices authors make when they are describing their research question as a research statement or hypothesis. 

  • Hypothesize, hypothesized, or hypothesis
  • Investigation, investigate(s), or investigated
  • Predict(s) or predicted
  • Evaluate(s) or evaluated
  • This research, this study, the current study, or this paper
  • The aim of this study or this research

You might also look for common question words (who, what, when, where, why, how) in a statement to see if it might be a rephrased research question. 

What Headings to Look Under

  • Introduction
    • General heading for the section. 
    • Since this is the first heading after the title and abstract, some authors leave it unlabeled. 
    • Likely where the research question is located if there is not a separate heading for it. 
  • The Current Study, Hypothesis, or Research Question
    • Explicit discussion of what is being investigated in the research. 
    • Should have some form of the research question.
  • Literature Review, Review of the Literature, or Background
    • Often a separate heading where the authors discuss previous research done on the topic. 
    • May be labeled by the topic being reviewed. 
    • Less likely to find the research question clearly stated. The authors may be talking about their topic more broadly than their current research question. 

Examples

  • Abásolo & Tsuchiya (2020)
    • Single "Introduction" heading. 
    • Research statement on page 85: "This paper compares how people perceive inequality in outcomes and risk at the collective level using examples in health and income in the context of losses."
      • Includes phrase "this paper."
      • Includes question word "how." 
      • You could turn the phrase "how people perceive inequality in outcomes and risk at the collective level" into the question "How do  people perceive inequality in outcomes and risk at the collective level?"
  • Lamont et al. (2018)
    • Labeled "Introduction" heading along with headings for topics of literature review. 
    • Research statement on page 1001 under "Introduction:" "Drawing on interviews with 24 LGBTQ college students, this research investigates how LGBTQ college students negotiate the hookup scene on college campuses, paying particular attention to the ways in which they either challenge or replicate dominant heteronormative practices."
      • Includes phrase "this research investigates." 
      • Includes question word "how."
      • You could turn the phrase "how LGBTQ college students negotiate the hookup scene on college campuses" into the question "How do LGBTQ college students negotiate the hookup scene on college campuses?"  
  • Sosoo et al. (2019)
    • Beginning of Introduction section is unlabeled. It then includes headings for different parts of the literature review and ends with a heading called "The Current Study" on page 573 for discussing the research questions.  
    • Includes the words and phrases "aim of this study," "hypothesized," and "predicted." 
    • You could turn the phrase "examine the effects of racial discrimination on anxiety symptom distress" into the question "What are the effects of racial discrimination on anxiety symptom distress?"
    • You could turn the phrase "explore the moderating role of internalized racism in the link between racial discrimination and changes in anxiety symptom distress" into the question "How doe internalized racism moderate the link ink between racial discrimination and changes in anxiety symptom distress?"