Research Guides: Social Work Macro Research in Organization, Community, and Policy Arenas: SSWG 8107: Identify Empirical Research Articles

What to look for

A empirical or scientific research paper will often have the following sections:

Abstract (indexing databases will often include just the abstract)
Introduction and research question(s)
Methods or Methodology (data collection may be included or as separate section)
Results
Discussion/Interpretations
Conclusions based on the data
References

Some journals have additional Supplementary Online Information with important details of the research.

Some approaches to reading scientific/empirical papers

How to Read a Scientific Paper by Michael Fosmire of Purdue University.
How to Read & Comprehend Scientific Research Articles Video (Arizona State University)
How to read and understand a scientific paper: a guide for non-scientists (London School of Economics blog)

This short video from USU Library explains what is empirical research.

Databases with a Methodology Filter

Several library databases have a way to filter search results for empirical methodologies. Try the techniques in bold in the following databases, in combination with other search terms for the topic you are researching.

It is also useful to search for the controlled vocabulary in the thesaurus or subject headings of the databases and use those terms and variants in searching. Look up a research method or search using terms like empirical, qualitative, quantitative, evaluation, correlation, intervention, or observation or browse by available categories. The Cochrane Library also has suggested Search strategies to identify observational studies in MEDLINE and Embase that can be used for other sources as well.

For databases and search engines without a methodology filter, such as Web of Science and Google Scholar, try (1) copying and pasting one or more of the types of studies listed for the Sociological Abstracts database or enter "study" to be broad with your search terms; and (2) include the operator AND (e.g. ("domestic violence" OR "intimate partner violence") AND study).

APA PsycInfo This link opens in a new window
APA PsycInfo [via EBSCOhost] contains citations and summaries of journal articles, book chapters, books and technical reports, as well as citations to dissertations, all in the field of psychology and psychological aspects of related disciplines, such as medicine, psychiatry, nursing, sociology, education, pharmacology, physiology, linguistics, anthropology, business and law. Filter on the search form or from the results page: (1) On the search form, select the methodology at the lower right of the filter check boxes; OR (2) On the results page, within the refine results area, click Methodology and then select Empirical Study to limit to empirical research articles or a specific type (e.g. qualitative study).View Using the Methodology Limiter in APA PsycInfo video.
Another option is to include, with other search terms, the thesaurus term Empirical Methods (login to view) to search scientific methodology based on experimentation, systematic observation, or measurement. View or download definitions of the fields and different Methodology field values. EBSCOhost search tips for APA PsycInfo

Left image: Methodology filter on the search form Right image: Methodology filter within Refine Results

CINAHL This link opens in a new window
CINAHL Provides indexing for nursing and health journals. The database contains records dating back to 1982. In addition, the database offers access to health care books, nursing dissertations, and selected conference proceedings. Search for the CINAHL subject headings: Clinical Trials, Empirical Research, Experimental Studies, Nonexperimental Studies, Qualitative Studies, Quantitative Studies, or Quasi-Experimental Studies to limit to empirical research.
CINAHL Abstracting and Indexing Database
Nurses, allied health professionals, researchers, nurse educators and students depend on the CINAHL Database to research their subject areas from this authoritative index of nursing and allied health journals. CINAHL indexes the top nursing and allied health literature available including nursing journals and publications from the National League for Nursing and the American Nurses Association. CINAHL also includes rigorous curation and indexing of open access (OA) journals, which has resulted in a growing collection of 1,446 active global OA journals.  Once validated and certified for inclusion, these OA journals are treated with high-quality subject indexing and sophisticated, precise/accurate full-text linking.
Subject Headings
CINAHL Subject Headings help users effectively search and retrieve information and follow the structure of the Medical Subject headings (MeSH) used by the National Library of Medicine. These Subject Headings help researchers find new concepts, including COVID-19, social distancing and vaping as well as local terminology.
Content Includes
3,814 active indexed and abstracted journals
3,461 active peer-reviewed indexed and abstracted journals
1,312 journals with searchable cited references
ERIC [via ProQuest] This link opens in a new window
ERIC [via ProQuest, or via EBSCOhost] provides access to education-related literature. ERIC provides coverage of journal articles, conferences, meetings, government documents, theses, dissertations, reports, audiovisual media, bibliographies, directories, books and monographs. In the Advanced Search, filter for Document Type= Reports: Research to limit to empirical research.
If using ERIC.ed.gov, under Publication Type, select "Reports-Research." Additional identifier filters for contents that specify it are available under "Assessments and Surveys." How to use identifier video
PubMed This link opens in a new window
PubMed comprises more than 30 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites. On search results pages, Select a type under Article Type (e.g. Clinical Trial) or click Additional Filters and select Article Type for more options. Use "Study Characteristics"[Publication Type] for all types of studies or check the study types of interest, such as "Evaluation Study" or Observational Study, to limit to empirical research. Description of Publication (article) Type.
Another approach is to search for a Medical Subject Heading (MesH) and include it with other MeSH terms or keywords. For example, include "Empirical Research"[mesh] to search for "study, based on direct observation, use of statistical records, interviews, or experimental methods, of actual practices or the actual impact of practices or policies."
Sociological Abstracts This link opens in a new window
Sociological Abstracts provides coverage of the world's literature on sociology and applied aspects of sociology. In the Advanced Search, search for Subject Headings such as: Action Research, Archival Research, Case Studies, Content Analysis, Discourse Analysis, Empirical Methods, Ethnography, Experiments, Fieldwork, Grounded Theory, Interviews, Longitudinal Studies, Models, Observation, Qualitative Methods, Quantitative Methods, Research, Surveys, Empirical Research, Qualitative Research, Questionnaires, Research, Surveys, Statistical Analysis, Statistical Studies, Statistical Surveys, Telephone Surveys, Use Studies, to limit to empirical research. This approach may also work with for the ProQuest Social Science Premium Collection, which includes the Sociological Abstracts.

Embase This link opens in a new window
EMBASE contains references to journal articles in biomedicine. The references consist of authors, title, journal data, abstract and keywords. EMBASE contains European literature, and coverage in the field of drug research, pharmacology and pharmaceutics. The database can be searched back to 1974.

Embase also has MEDLINE records.
In the results filters, look at Study types, and check the ones you want, such as controlled study, case report, retrospective study, cohort analysis, cross sectional study, systematic review, comparative study, prospective study, interview, longitudinal study, randomized controlled trial, observational study, meta analysis, qualitative research, semi structured interview, pilot study. Read also about General Study Types Hedges

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