Empirical vs. Non-Empirical Sources: A Guide for Research
Source Evaluation for Dissertations and Capstones
For advanced research, your argument’s foundation is source quality. This guide provides a framework to evaluate evidence, understand claims makers, and judge source legitimacy, positioning you as a thought leader.
Get Expert Research HelpYou’ve identified a social problem and now must build a case with credible evidence from academic journals and newspapers. These sources feel worlds apart, a common research challenge. Differentiating them is a key skill for making informed scholarly arguments. This guide will help you analyze sources effectively to meet high academic standards.
Defining Empirical Sources in Research
Recognizing the pillars of scholarly evidence for your research.
The Hallmarks of Peer-Reviewed Literature
Empirical sources are studies based on verifiable evidence from observation or experimentation. Their key feature is the peer-review process, where field experts evaluate the research for quality, accuracy, and sound methodology before publication. This ensures valid, reliable knowledge. Using “peer-reviewed” filters in academic libraries is the first step to building a credible annotated bibliography.
Structure of a Scholarly Article
Empirical papers follow a strict structure. Look for these key sections:
- Abstract: A concise summary of the research.
- Introduction/Literature Review: Background on the topic and existing research.
- Methodology: A detailed explanation of how the data was collected and analyzed. This is the heart of its empirical claim.
- Results: Presentation of the findings, often with tables or graphs.
- Discussion: Interpretation of the results and their implications.
- References: A comprehensive list of cited sources.
Non-Empirical Sources and Claims Makers
Understanding how social problems are framed in the public sphere.
Inside Claims Makers in Popular Media
Newspaper articles, news segments, and magazine features are non-empirical sources written for a broad audience and rarely peer-reviewed. Their purpose is often to inform or persuade. Within these sources, you’ll find claims makers—individuals or groups defining a social condition as a problem. Inside claims makers, like officials or experts quoted in media, lend credibility to the claim due to their status. Their perspectives frame the problem for the public.
How Media Shapes Narratives
Popular media constructs a narrative using storytelling and selective data. The evidence is often anecdotal or statistical without full context. Your task is to analyze how claims makers and narratives shape public perception, a key part of many Walden University assignments. This differs from the systematic investigation of the empirical approach.
Analysis: Scholarly vs. Popular Evidence
Putting sources side-by-side to evaluate their claims.
Defining a Social Problem: Two Approaches
Using empirical sources, explain how researchers define your social problem’s nature and scope. They use precise terminology and define the problem with quantifiable data. For example, they might define unemployment by citing specific economic indicators from a national survey.
In contrast, newspapers define the problem through an inside claims maker. A politician might define unemployment as a crisis of personal responsibility, while an advocate might frame it as systemic inequality, supported by a personal story. Compare how the evidence in each source supports its definition of the problem—a core skill for any research paper.
Using Non-Empirical Sources Appropriately
Enriching, not replacing, scholarly evidence with popular media.
Providing Context and Relevance
While non-empirical sources can’t make scientific claims, they are invaluable for contextualizing your research. Use a news article in your introduction to demonstrate your topic’s public relevance. It shows why your research matters *now*. For instance, “A recent series in The New York Times highlighted the growing issue of…, underscoring the need for this dissertation’s empirical investigation.” This approach maintains academic integrity.
Judging Media Legitimacy
To judge legitimacy, consider the publisher’s reputation, the author’s expertise, and if inside claims makers are credible. Look for corroboration from other reputable news sources. A recent systematic review in an ERIC report found that students often struggle with evaluating online sources, highlighting the need for a systematic evaluation checklist.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about academic sources.
How can I quickly tell if an article is empirical?
Look for a “Methodology” or “Methods” section. This is the clearest indicator that the authors collected and analyzed their own data. Also, check for an abstract, a list of references, and publication in a known academic journal.
Can I cite a news article to support a factual claim in my dissertation?
It’s highly discouraged. For a factual claim (e.g., a statistic), you must trace it back to its primary source, which is usually an empirical study, a government report, or a reputable research organization. Use the news article to understand the public conversation, not as the source of the data itself.
What is the difference between a literature review article and an empirical article?
Both are scholarly and peer-reviewed. However, an empirical article presents new data collected by the authors. A literature review article does not collect new data; instead, it summarizes, synthesizes, and critiques existing empirical studies on a topic to identify trends or gaps in the research. Both are valuable, but only the former is a primary empirical source.
Build Your Research on Credibility
Your project’s success hinges on strong evidence. Master the critical evaluation of empirical and non-empirical sources to ensure your work is sound and credible. If you need support, our experts are ready to assist.
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