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What is the difference between empirical (aka primary research) and review articles? The main difference is the degree of separation the authors have from an actual experiment and/or study taking place. In an empirical/primary article, the authors are the same people who conducted the research and are writing about what they learned firsthand. In a review article, the authors are asking a question and answering it by reading primary articles written on this topic - they report on the results of experiments/studies secondhand, which is why review articles are sometimes called secondary sources.
| Empirical (sometimes also called "primary") | Review (sometimes also called "secondary") | |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | other scholars/researchers | other scholars/researchers |
| Purpose | the authors are reporting on an experiment/study that they themselves have conducted | the authors are asking a question and answering it by consulting other published research on the topic |
| Structure | very structured, typically with an IMRAD format (introduction, methods, results, analysis & discussion) | very structured, but sections may be labeled by theme and not necessarily with a methods/results/discussion section |
| Methods | the methods section will describe how the experiment was conducted | the methods section will describe the types of articles the authors consulted and where they found these articles |
| Review | blind reviewed by other scholars | blind reviewed by other scholars |
| Examples |
Cao, H, et. al. 2024. Decreased inter-hemispheric cooperation in major depressive disorder and its association with neurotransmitter profiles. Journal of Affective Disorders, 359, 109-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.05.072. |
Deuis, J.R., Klasfauseweh, T., Walker, L, & Vetter, I. 2024. The 'dispanins' and related proteins in physiology and neurological disease. Trends in neuroscience, 47(8), 622-634. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2024.06.004 |
