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empirical approach RM

The document discusses the evolution of empirical and scientific research, particularly emphasizing the rise of Positivism and the behavioral revolution in the mid-20th century. It outlines the definition, basic postulates, steps, advantages, and disadvantages of empirical research, highlighting its reliance on verifiable evidence and objective methodologies. The scientific method is presented as a systematic approach to research that seeks to eliminate bias and enhance the validity of findings.

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izhar ahmad
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4 views

empirical approach RM

The document discusses the evolution of empirical and scientific research, particularly emphasizing the rise of Positivism and the behavioral revolution in the mid-20th century. It outlines the definition, basic postulates, steps, advantages, and disadvantages of empirical research, highlighting its reliance on verifiable evidence and objective methodologies. The scientific method is presented as a systematic approach to research that seeks to eliminate bias and enhance the validity of findings.

Uploaded by

izhar ahmad
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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EMPIRICAL AND SCIENTIFIC APPROACH

The twentieth century was dominated by the conception of empirical or scientific


research especially after the WW2. Empirical research refuses to accord the status
of knowledge to those theories which indulge in value judgements. The drive for
value free research started in order to be more scientific and objective. This new
orientation came to be known as Positivism. Researchers set out to attain scientific
knowledge which is empirically verified and proved.
When this approach reached to its peak in 1950’s a kind of revolution started and
engulfed the entire field of study and research known as behavioural revolution
advocating new features for study and research. They are: -
1. Demolition of the normative framework and promotion of empirical research
which can be susceptible to statistical tests
2. Non – acceptance and rejection of the history of ideas
3. Glorification of specialisation
4. Focus on micro study as it was more amendable to empirical treatment
5. Encouragement to qualitative technique in analysis
6. Procurement of data from the behaviour of individual and
7. Urge for value free – research.

Definition:
Empirical research is defined as any research where conclusions of the study is
strictly drawn from concretely empirical evidence, and therefore “verifiable”
evidence. This empirical evidence can be gathered using quantitative research
and qualitative research methods.
Scientific method is the pursuit of truth as determined by logical considerations.
The ideal of science is to achieve a systematic interrelation of facts. Scientific
method attempts to achieve “this ideal by experimentation, observation, logical
arguments from accepted postulates and a combination of these three in varying
proportions.” – Ostle and Mensing.
In scientific method, logic aids in formulating propositions explicitly and accurately
so that their possible alternatives become clear. Further, logic develops the
consequences of such alternatives, and when these are compared with
observable phenomena, it becomes possible for the researcher or the scientist to
state which alternative is most in harmony with the observed facts. All this is done
through experimentation and survey investigations which constitute the integral
parts of scientific method. Experimentation is done to test hypotheses and to
discover new relationships. If any, among variables.
Basic postulates of scientific method
1 It relies on empirical evidence;
2 It is based on data collection and data analysis
3 generalisation- should be applicable to all. It aims at formulating most general
axioms or what can be termed as scientific theories.
4 focus on predictability - It results into probabilistic predictions
5. It utilizes relevant concepts;
6. It is committed to only objective considerations;
7. It presupposes ethical neutrality;
8 Its methodology is made known to all concerned for critical scrutiny or for use in
testing the conclusions through replication;

Steps of scientific or empirical research are:


• Identification of the research topic which would be a proper formal statement;
•Review of relevant literature to assess what has been already done in the topic
taken for research;
• Collection of already established facts and figures on the topic of research;
• Formulation of carefully drafted hypothesis(es);
• Testing the hypothesis(es), on the basis of a thoughtful research design;
• Assembling and organising the data collected systematically for analysis;
• Arriving at inferences and conclusions;
• Generalisation, if the results are amenable for it;
• Preparation and presentation of the research results; and
• Dissemination for peer review

Advantages of empirical research:


• It is used to authenticate traditional research through various experiments and
observations.
• This research methodology makes the research being conducted more competent
and authentic.
• It enables a researcher understand the dynamic changes that can happen and
change his strategy accordingly.
• The level of control in such research is high so the researcher can control multiple
variables.
• It plays a vital role in increasing internal validity

Disadvantages of empirical research:


• Such research can be very time consuming, as data needs to be collected from
multiple sources and quite a few parameters are involved. So, the researcher needs
patience
• could be an expensive affair as researcher will need to conduct research at
different locations or in different environments,
• There are a few rules in which experiments can be performed and hence
permissions are needed which may be difficult to obtain at times
“the scientific method encourages a rigorous, impersonal mode of procedure
dictated by the demands of logic and objective procedure.”10 Accordingly, scientific
method implies an objective, logical and systematic method, i.e., a method free from
personal bias or prejudice, a method to ascertain demonstrable qualities of a
phenomenon capable of being verified, a method wherein the researcher is guided
by the rules of logical reasoning, a method wherein the investigation proceeds in an
orderly manner and a method that implies internal consistency.

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