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social science subjects > social research > empirical research

Preferred term

empirical research  

Definition

  • Empirical research, following the tenets of empiricism, is grounded in the belief that direct observation of phenomena is an appropriate way to measure reality and generate truth about the world. Within the realm of qualitative research, then, empirical research has been redefined to challenge traditional notions of “truth” and “evidence” while still maintaining the basic premises of acknowledging the materials under study as “empirical.” This entry reviews the development of empirical research in the social sciences, describes the role of qualitative methods in the field, and considers ways in which qualitative researchers have sought to redefine rigor and find new criteria for evaluating research. [Source: The SAGE Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research Methods; Empirical Research]

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https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/empirical_research

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