Empirical Legal Studies

Leiden Law Methods Portal

Leiden Law School has a methods portal that offers an overview of the various phases of empirical legal research.

Specifically, the methods portal addresses how various research methods can be applied to empirically examine questions related to the development, application and effects of rules and regulations. It distinguishes among four phases of the empirical cycle:

• Research design
• Data collection
• Data analysis
• Writing of results and conclusions

The portal is intended for any scholar - legal or nonlegal, junior or senior - who is interested in studying law and legal phenomena. Currently, it contains entries that provide an introduction to possible research methods and data analysis tools, including a short list of resources. It also provides a database of experts consisting of colleagues within Leiden Law School who are using empirical legal research methods and who can be reached out to for specific questions regarding empirical legal research. We hope the methods portal gives you an accessible starting point for your research journey and points you toward further learning, conversation, and collaboration.

The Leiden Law Methods portal is a joint collaboration between the Van Vollenhoven Institute and the Empirical Legal Studies project. Thanks to colleagues from across the faculty, the portal is gradually expanding.