Science as a process of cognition is based on research activities. It is aimed at reliable and comprehensive study of a phenomenon or object, their structure, relationships based on certain methods and principles, to obtain results and put them into practice. At the initial stage, the scientific apparatus of scientific research is determined. Consider its features.
Activity specifics
The key features of scientific research are:
- The probabilistic nature of the results.
- The uniqueness of the activity, in connection with which the use of standard techniques and methods is significantly limited.
- Complexity and complexity.
- The complexity, scale associated with the need to study a large number of objects and verify the results by experimental methods.
- The presence of a connection between research and practice.
Characteristics of the scientific apparatus of research
Any research activity has an object and a subject. They are considered the main components of the scientific apparatus of research . The object is a virtual or material system. The subject is the structure of the system, the laws of the relationship of both internal and external elements, their development, properties, qualities, etc.
The scientific apparatus of scientific research also includes:
- The idea.
- Relevance of the topic.
- A problem.
- Goal.
- Hypothesis.
- Tasks.
- The methodology of the study.
- Novelty, practical significance of the results.
The idea
It is an idea through which all the elements of the scientific apparatus of scientific research are connected. The idea determines the order and stages of activity.
As a rule, it is associated with the discovery of a contradiction in any sphere that causes the problem. Formation of a plan is the most important stage of scientific research. The scientific apparatus of activity is built around an idea. The subject studying the object or phenomenon should clearly represent the problem and the importance of resolving it. The strictness and logic of the scientific apparatus of research and, consequently, the success of all activities will largely depend on this.
It is necessary to formulate a contradiction clearly and scientifically. Otherwise, the wrong direction of activity will be chosen.
Research problem
The scientific apparatus of research is formed when a contradiction is identified, which should be resolved in the process of cognitive activity. When formulating the problem, however, an important nuance must be taken into account.
It must be understood that not every contradiction can be resolved solely by the means of the scientific apparatus of research. For example, staffing, material difficulties may arise. Moreover, cognition does not resolve practical contradictions. It forms the prerequisites, shows ways to solve problems. An example is scientific and pedagogical research. The apparatus of such an activity may include all the necessary components, however, the problem can be solved only with a combination of scientific and practical activities.
As a rule, the problem is formulated as a question. For example, "what conditions are necessary for the formation of the competence of a tourism specialist?".
The contradictions that have developed in one or another area of human activity pose a problem and largely determine the relevance of scientific research.
Topic
It is an indispensable element of the scientific apparatus. The topic should be relevant. The need to resolve a particular problem must be justified.
At the initial stage, the subject outlines the goal, defines the object, the subject of study, puts forward a hypothesis, poses tasks, the solution of which will allow it to be confirmed or refuted.
It is impractical to start research from afar, and lyrical digressions will be inappropriate. The relevance of the topic should be justified concisely.
goal
It represents a kind of predicted result of the study. Accordingly, the goal should be reflected in the wording of the topic. She, in turn, characterizes the main features of the problem posed to the researcher.
Correctly formulated goals and topics clarify the problem, specify , outline the scope of activity, and make it possible to choose the conceptual apparatus of scientific research .
Features distinguishing between subject and object
Most often, these elements are correlated as a whole and part of the whole or general and particular. With this approach, the object covers the subject of research. For example, the object of scientific activity is learning as a conscious need, and the subject is a set of factors that influence the formation of the need for training.
The definition of the subject is of key importance in the formation of the conceptual apparatus of scientific research. After all, it is on its basis that the theme, goal of activity is formulated, tasks are solved. Depending on the direction of the study, the subject of knowledge will use certain terms, categories, definitions.
Hypothesis
It is an assumption that is put forward to explain a particular phenomenon or property of an object. A hypothesis is an unconfirmed and unrebutted formulation. She may be:
- Descriptive. In this case, the researcher assumes the existence of a certain phenomenon.
- Explanatory. Such a hypothesis explains the reasons for the existence of the phenomenon.
- Descriptive and explanatory.
The hypothesis should:
- Usually include one (rarely more) main position.
- Corresponding to facts, to be verified using existing methods and adapted to a large number of phenomena.
- Include unambiguous concepts. It should not have unspecified terms, value judgments.
- To be logically simple, stylistically correctly designed.
The choice of methodology
The methodological apparatus of scientific research is formed by a combination of techniques, methods of cognition. The researcher must correctly determine the order of their application. The choice depends on the purpose of the study, the professionalism of the subject of knowledge.
Scientific publications offer many different classifications of methods for a variety of reasons. The main groups include:
- Experimental methods, methods for processing empirical research, building and testing theories, and reporting the results.
- Philosophical, special, general scientific methods.
- Methods of quantitative and qualitative research.
Empirical and theoretical methods
Empirical scientific activity is directed directly to the object. The methods used in it are based on data obtained from observation and experimentation. In the course of empirical research, information is collected, accumulated and processed, facts, external general signs of the studied objects are recorded.
In theoretical research, the key direction is the improvement of the conceptual apparatus. During it, the subject of knowledge works with different concepts and models.
Theoretical and empirical research are closely interconnected.
Research stages
At the initial stage of the activity, a topic is chosen. The possibility of research will depend on how well it is selected and formulated.
As a rule, a topic is selected from a list of relevant, but insufficiently studied issues. Meanwhile, the researcher can propose his own topic. Usually the problem is selected on the basis of factual material collected in the process of practical activity. The novelty and relevance of the topic is checked through a comprehensive bibliographic search.
Work with sources
A.F. Anufriev draws attention to the features of bibliographic search. In his opinion, at the initial stage of working with sources, you need to get answers to a number of questions:
- What to look for?
- Where to looking for?
- How to search?
- Where to record?
- How to record?
It must be understood that information can be presented both in the form of bibliographic data (an indication of the sources in which the information is contained) presented in the form of a list in a document or part thereof, and in the form of the content of the scientific information itself (in the form of monographs, collections, articles etc.). In both cases, the search can be carried out by viewing special publications, reference systems, subject indexes, catalogs, dictionaries, abstracts, computer systems, etc.
Study design
Despite the fact that this stage has a pronounced individual character, there are several fundamental nuances that need to be taken into account.
The research program must reflect:
- The phenomenon that is being investigated.
- Learning indicators.
- Used research criteria.
- Rules for the application of methods.
When implementing this program, the researcher will receive preliminary theoretical and practical results. They will contain answers to the tasks solved during the study. The conclusions to be drawn should be:
- To be reasoned, summarizing the results of research activities.
- To flow from the material accumulated in the course of practice is a logical consequence of the analysis and generalization of information.
When formulating conclusions, the following errors are considered the most common:
- A kind of "stomp on the spot." We are talking about situations when a researcher draws superficial and limited conclusions from a large, capacious amount of empirical information.
- Overly broad generalization. In this case, the researcher draws too general conclusions based on a small amount of information.
Literary design
This stage is considered final.
The literary presentation of information is closely related to the refinement of the provisions, the refinement of arguments, logic and the elimination of gaps in the motivation of the conclusions drawn. Of particular importance at this stage is the level of individual development of the researcher, his literary abilities, and the ability to correctly formulate thoughts.
Meanwhile, there are several general, to some extent even formal, rules.
First of all, the name and content of chapters and sections should be consistent with the topic of the study, not go beyond it. The essence of the chapters should comprehensively reveal the topic, and the content of the sections as a whole chapter.
The material can be presented in a calm or polemical style. But in any case, the conclusions should be reasoned.
Important point
A mandatory requirement in the literary design of scientific research is the observance of the so-called author’s modesty. The subject carrying out scientific activity must take into account and fix everything that was done by his predecessors when working on the problem under study. Of course, it is necessary to note their own contribution to science. However, it is necessary to evaluate your achievements objectively.
In the course of the literary design of research materials, one must strive for the correct wording, concretization of the provisions, ideas, conclusions, recommendations. They should be available, fully and accurately reflect the results obtained in the course of scientific activity.
Conclusion
Scientific research is a complex, laborious activity. It assumes the availability of in-depth knowledge in a variety of subjects. There are topics whose research is particularly difficult. In the course of them, specific techniques and special equipment are used. For example, spacecraft are specially created for scientific research of other planets of the solar system.
However, it should be said that any scientific activity requires careful preparation. The subject of knowledge must correctly set a goal and formulate the tasks of research. On their basis, he will choose techniques, methods, means of work.
Particular attention must be paid to information sources. In work on the problem, it is advisable to use the materials of modern researchers, since in their works they have already generalized all previous experience.
We should not forget about the practical confirmation of their arguments. In all cases, when possible, it is necessary to conduct experiments. Their results will strengthen argumentation and adjust the further course of research.