Final answer:
Difficulties in finding empirical support can be blamed on limited data, inadequate research methods, participant disinterest, and biased researcher interpretations. Biases in survey design and response can also affect the accuracy of research findings. It is crucial for researchers to use rigorous methodologies to mitigate these limitations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Difficulties finding empirical support can be attributed to various factors. Limited available data for research can hinder the ability to conduct comprehensive studies. When researchers have inadequate research methods or design, they may not be capturing the full scope of data or their approach may not be suitable to answer the research question effectively. Lack of interest from participants can lead to a small sample size and consequently, affect the representativeness and generalizability of the findings. Additionally, researchers' biased interpretations can influence the outcome of a study. This can happen when researchers have preconceived notions that affect their analysis and interpretation of data, or they might only collect data that supports their hypothesis, stopping once minimal supportive evidence is gathered without considering contradictory data.
Other aspects such as the design of the survey itself can limit accuracy. For example, question wording effects can change how individuals respond to surveys, as studies have demonstrated differing responses to terms like "global warming" versus "climate change." Moreover, interviewer bias can affect survey responses depending on the social class or gender of the interviewer. Response bias is another challenge where individuals do not report their true opinions due to reasons like misremembering or attempting to present themselves in a certain light.
Meanwhile, the risk of observer bias in observational research necessitates clear criteria and the use of multiple observers to ensure inter-rater reliability. All these factors contribute to the complexities in finding empirical support and highlight the necessity for rigorous research methodology.