Empirical
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A central concept in [[science]] and the [[scientific method]] is that all [[evidence]] must be '''empirical''', or empirically based, that is, dependent on evidence or [[Logical consequence|consequences]] that are [[observable]] by the [[sense]]s. '''Empirical data''' is [[data]] that is produced by [[experiment]] or [[observation]].<ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/61/71/E0117100.html ''The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition'']. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company.</ref> It is usually differentiated from the philosophic usage of [[empiricism]] by the use of the adjective "empirical" or the adverb "empirically." "Empirical" as an adjective or adverb is used in conjunction with both the [[natural science|natural]] and [[social science]]s, and refers to the use of working [[hypothesis|hypotheses]] that are [[testable]] using [[observation]] or [[experiment]]. In this sense of the word, scientific statements are subject to and derived from our experiences or observations.
==Variations==
In a second sense "empirical" in science may be synonymous with "experimental." In this sense, an empirical result is an experimental observation. In this context, the term ''semi-empirical'' is used for qualifying theoretical methods which use in part basic [[axiom]]s or postulated scientific laws and experimental results. Such methods are opposed to theoretical ''[[ab initio]]'' methods which are purely [[deductive]] and based on [[first principles]].
In [[statistics]], "empirical" quantities are those computed from [[observed value]]s, as opposed to those derived from theoretical considerations.
In [[economics]], "empirical" generally refers to statistical or econometric analysis of numeric data. Other forms of observation-based hypothesis testing are not considered to be "empirics."
The use of the adjective empirical, especially in scientific studies using [[statistics]], may also indicate that a particular [[correlation]] between two parameters has been found, but that so far, no theory for the mechanism of the connection is known.
In Chemistry the term empirical is used to refer to a molecular formula in its lowest common terms found in terms of element proportions and molar masses.
==Notes==
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==See also==
{{wiktionary}}
*[[Empiricism]] (Philosophic usage and history)
*[[Empirical research]] (More on the scientific usage)
*[[Empirical formula]]
*[[Theoretical]]
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