Empiirisen

empiirisen is a Finnish adjective form meaning empirical, used to describe knowledge, methods, or conclusions based on observation, experience, or data gathered through measurements and experiments rather than on theory alone. The word is frequently used in scientific, academic, and rational-discussion contexts to distinguish evidence derived from real-world observation from purely theoretical reasoning.

In Finnish, empiriin liittyvät ilmaukset include empiirinen tieto (empirical knowledge), empiirinen tutkimus (empirical research), and empiiriset havainnot (empirical observations). The related noun empiirismi denotes empiricism, the philosophical view that knowledge primarily comes from experience. The term contrasts with teoreettinen or mallipohjainen, which refer to theoretical or model-based approaches.

Etymology generally traces the concept of empiricism to experience and observation; in Finnish usage, empiirinen mirrors its counterparts in other languages and is common across disciplines such as science, psychology, sociology, and economics. In practice, researchers emphasize empirical evidence when drawing conclusions, validating hypotheses through data, experiments, or systematic observations.

Notes on usage: empiirisen tutkijan emphasis is on evidence gathered from the external world, while non-empirical or a priori claims rely on logic, deduction, or theoretical models. The form empiirisen appears when the adjective modifies a noun in Finnish (for example, empiirisen tutkimuksen tulokset).

Examples: Empiirisen tutkimuksen mukaan tulokset show that a certain phenomenon occurs under observed conditions, and empiirisen tiedon perusteella päätelmät voidaan tehdä.