Empiiriliselt

empiirilisesti is a Finnish adverb meaning "in an empirical manner" or "based on observation or experience rather than theory." It describes approaches, methods, or conclusions grounded in empirical data, such as measurements, experiments, or field observations. The term is common in scientific, academic, and analytical writing and is often used to contrast with theoretical or deductive reasoning.

Etymology and form: The adverb derives from the adjective empiriinen (empirical) and the nounempiiri (empiria), both connected to the concept of empiricism in science. The suffix -isesti forms adverbs from adjectives in Finnish, yielding empiirilisesti.

Usage and examples: Empiirilisesti is used to modify verbs, adjectives, or whole clauses to indicate that a claim rests on observed evidence. Examples include: empiirilisesti todistetut tulokset (results proven empirically); empiirisesti kerätty aineisto (empirically collected data); tutkimus on conducted empiirilisesti (the study was conducted empirically). In contrast to teoreettisesti or deduktiivisesti, empiirilisesti emphasizes data collection, measurement, and observation rather than purely theoretical reasoning.

Nuances and limitations: Empirical evidence depends on data quality, measurement validity, and replication. Empiirilisesti strengthened conclusions may still be contingent on context or sample size, and are not automatically generalizable. The term is widely used across natural and social sciences, as well as in policy-oriented or applied research, to signify that findings arise from observation rather than abstract theory.

Related terms: empiri, empiriinen, empirismi, teoreettinen, deduktiivinen.