What is empirical data?

Empirical data refers to information that is gathered through direct observation or experience, making it verifiable and testable. This kind of data is grounded in real-world evidence, which means it can be corroborated by others through experimentation or observation. For example, in a fire investigation, empirical data may include witness testimonies, physical evidence from the fire scene, and measurements of fire behavior—all of which are concrete and can be examined and assessed.

The definition emphasizes the importance of having data that can be tested and is based on factual occurrences rather than assumptions or hypothetical scenarios. This is fundamental in fields like fire investigation, where conclusions about the cause and dynamics of a fire need to be based on reliable evidence rather than theory or speculation.