Special methods of scientific research are a way of knowing objective reality. This method involves a certain sequence of techniques, actions, operations. Taking into account the content of the objects under consideration, methods of social and humanitarian research and natural science are distinguished.
Classification
Special research methods are divided into scientific branches:
- medical;
- math
- socio-economic;
- biological;
- legal.
Based on the level of cognition, theoretical, empirical, meta-subject levels are distinguished. Special empirical methods are description, observation, measurement, counting, testing, questionnaire, modeling, experiment, interview.
Among the methods of the theoretical plan, abstraction, formalization, axiom, synthesis, analogy, deduction, induction are noted. Special methods of the metatheoretical level are metaphysics, dialectics.
Generality Division
Given the scope of use and degree of generality, there are:
- philosophical (universal), which are applicable in any sciences, at all stages of cognition;
- general scientific, used in natural, humanitarian, technical fields;
- private, used for related scientific fields;
- special ones created for a specific field of scientific knowledge.
Important Terms
Special research methods are associated with the procedure and methodology of scientific knowledge. The technique of research is the sum of special techniques for applying a particular method. The research procedure is considered a sequence of actions, a variant of the organization of direct research. The technique is the sum of receptions and methods of cognition. Any research in science is carried out in certain ways and techniques, taking into account specific rules.
Methodology
It consists of special methods, techniques. This concept is used in two meanings:
- the sum of the methods that are used in a certain field of activity: politics, science;
- the doctrine of the scientific version of knowledge.
Any science has its own methodology. In scientific research, this is a system of rules, principles, and techniques that are designed for the qualitative solution of cognitive tasks.
Methodology levels
There are different methods of special education, allowing to educate and develop the younger generation. These levels of methodology are distinguished:
- the universal part, which is universal for all sciences, the content of which includes general scientific and philosophical methods of cognition;
- a private methodology is characteristic of general scientific options for cognition, for example, for state-legal phenomena;
- the methodology of scientific research of a particular science, which is based on general scientific, philosophical, special, private methods of cognition, for example, the theoretical basis of correctional pedagogy.
Philosophical methods
Special scientific methods of the philosophical plan are metaphysical and dialectical approaches. They are associated with different philosophical systems. For example, Goethe combined the method with idealism, Marx with materialism.
When considering phenomena and objects, dialectics recommends proceeding from specific principles:
- to study objects in the light of dialectical laws: unity and struggle of opposites, negation of negation, the transition of quantitative changes to qualitative ones;
- explain, describe, predict the processes and phenomena under consideration, based on philosophical categories: special, general, individual, phenomena and essence, consequences and causes, random and necessary;
- treat the investigated object as an objective reality;
- consider phenomena and objects: in development, change;
- verify in practice the knowledge gained.
General scientific methods
General and special methods are divided into several groups. Among general scientific distinguish theoretical, general logical, empirical. The general logical options are synthesis, analysis, deduction, induction, analogy. They are in demand in modern pedagogy. Analysis is a division into parts of the object of study. For example, special teaching methods are distinguished for each subject area considered in Russian pedagogy.
As varieties of analysis, classification and periodization are noted. They are widely used in the natural sciences. For example, when considering inorganic compounds, students become acquainted with individual classes, give each of them a characteristic.
Synthesis is the union of individual parties, parts of the analyzed object into a single whole. Special methods are distinguished in each sphere; they depend on its specificity and purpose.
Induction and deduction
Among pedagogical techniques and methods, without which it is difficult to imagine education, let us single out induction and deduction.
Induction is the derivation of a particular from a general theory, the movement in science from general principles to specific phenomena and objects.
Methods of special psychology involve “deriving” some idea from other thoughts. The analogy, which involves obtaining information about phenomena and objects based on the fact that they have similarities with other objects, is used in the teaching of educational disciplines, as well as in educational activities.
Among the methods of a theoretical level that teachers use in their work, hypothetical, axiomatic types, as well as system analysis and generalization are of interest.
The axiomatic method is a research option, consisting in the fact that the postulates are accepted without proof, then other knowledge is derived from them according to specific logical rules.
The hypothetical method is a research option using a scientific hypothesis, assuming a reason that characterizes this consequence or explains the existence of an object (phenomenon). A hypothetical-deductive method of research is used as a variety of the method, the essence of which is the formation of a system of deductively related hypotheses, from which statements about empirical laws are derived.
The structure of the hypothetical-deductive method
Since it is used in modern pedagogy, we dwell on it in more detail. Its structure includes:
- making assumptions about the patterns and causes of the analyzed objects and methods;
- selection of the most likely versions from a variety of guesses;
- deduction from the assumption of conclusion by deduction;
- experimental confirmation of the consequences derived from the hypothesis.
What other special pedagogical methods are currently used in domestic pedagogy?
Formalization refers to the display of an object or phenomenon in a sign form. This is relevant in chemistry, mathematics, and logic in the study of school curriculum topics. The use of artificial formalized language helps to eliminate the shortcomings of the natural language: inaccuracy, uncertainty, ambiguity.
Instead of reasoning about a specific object of research, formalizations use formulas. For example, in chemistry using the equations determine the essence of the process, plan the synthesis of compounds with given chemical and physical properties.
Formalization is the basis of programming and algorithmization. Using this method, information is computerized, a process of researching specific knowledge takes place.
Features of abstraction
Abstraction is a figurative distraction from some properties and relations of the subject in question, highlighting the properties that interest the researcher.
In the framework of abstraction, secondary connections and properties of the process (phenomenon) under consideration are separated from the main characteristics. There are several types of abstraction:
- identification, involving the allocation of general relations and properties of the objects in question, the union of objects in a separate class;
- isolation, regarding the allocation of certain relations and properties, their consideration in the form of independent research subjects.
Other types of abstraction are also distinguished: actual infinity, potential feasibility.
Generalization is a way of establishing the relationships and properties of phenomena and objects, revealing a general concept in which the main features of the analyzed class can be reflected. This method of scientific research is based on the philosophical categories of the particular, the general, the individual.
The historical method consists in identifying historical signs, reconstructing a process based on them, accompanied by the disclosure of the research logic in chronological order.
The system method involves the analysis of the system, that is, the consideration of a certain amount of ideal or material objects, their connections with the outside world. These interactions and relationships contribute to the emergence of new system parameters that are absent in its objects.
Conclusion
Research methods are the basis for analysis, study, building patterns that occur in nature, technology, social life. For example, the methods of interest are: measurement, observation, experiment, description, modeling, comparison. Observation involves a method of cognition based on the direct perception of phenomena and objects through sensory perception. As part of the observation, the researcher receives information about the external attributes of the subject (phenomenon). The description is associated with their fixation, for example, in the process of measuring or observing. There are several varieties of description. With a direct researcher indicates and perceives the signs of the object in question. In an indirect form, he notes signs that are perceived by other persons.
The experimental method deserves special attention . It involves the reproduction of a process, phenomenon, accompanied by a hypothesis (assumption). Research is not unique to research laboratories and universities. In the framework of updating the content of domestic school education, this type of scientific activity began to be widely used during the training and development of the younger generation. Young researchers learn to independently conduct small experiments, format their results, analyze them.
GEF of the new generation, introduced into pre-school and school Russian education, require the mandatory use of research methods in all subject areas. Currently, there are many scientific methods due to which the properties and attributes of objects are explained in science and technology, new approaches to pedagogy are created, and methods of work in psychology are improved. It is difficult to imagine the full development of society, the formation of a younger generation without the use of a variety of scientific methods in the educational process.