The methodology and methods of scientific research are aimed at the knowledge of objective reality. Moreover, they represent a specific sequence of operations, techniques, actions. They differ depending on what the studied objects contain. It is worth considering that in this case the methodology is nothing more than the application of general theories, principles aimed at solving the problems of a particular science, research problems.
Currently, science has a fairly large number of methods of scientific research. The classification of research methods is carried out on various grounds.
The methodology and methods of scientific research are classified by scientific fields: biological, mathematical, socio-economic, medical, legal, etc.
In accordance with the level of cognition, methods of theoretical, empirical, metatheoretical levels are differentiated.
Methods of quantitative and qualitative processing of the obtained data are distinguished, for example, factorial, correlation, cluster analysis or presentation in the form of graphs, tables, charts, histograms, etc.
The classification of scientific research methods by the nature of the researcher's actions contains four groups:
1) empirical, including self-observation and observation; experimental and psychodiagnostic, containing questionnaires, testing, conversation, interviewing and sociometry; praximetric methods - cyclography, chronometry, professiographic description and evaluation of work; biographical, based on the analysis of facts, evidence, events, dates of human life and modeling method;
2) organizational methods: integrated, longitudinal, comparative;
3) interpretation methods, in particular, the structural and genetic method;
4) methods of qualitative and quantitative analysis.
However, the methodology and methods of scientific research are traditionally carried out, based on the level of scientific knowledge - empirical or theoretical. In this case, research methods are accordingly distinguished.
The methodology and methods of scientific research directly depend on the degree of generality and scope. In accordance with these distinguish methods:
1) philosophical (universal), which operate at any stage of cognition and in all sciences;
2) general scientific, applied in natural, humanitarian and technical sciences;
3) private, used to study related sciences;
4) special, applicable to a specific field of scientific knowledge.
What are the methods of scientific research in psychology in particular? The main methods include experiment and observation, and auxiliary methods include analysis of the results of activity and communication. How to determine what methods of scientific research in psychology are rationally applied? The decision in each case is taken individually. It all depends on the object and objectives of the study. It is worth noting that, as a rule, not one specific method is used, but several methods in combination. In addition, each of the methods mutually controls and complements each other.
By observation is meant a method consisting in the purposeful, systematic and deliberate perception and fixing of manifestations of behavior in order to obtain conclusions about the psychic, subjective phenomena of the observed.
An experiment - differs from observation in that it is carried out as part of a specially created research situation with active intervention in it with the systematic manipulation of variable factors and recording the changes obtained in the subject’s behavior.
The questionnaire method, the method of conversation, is associated with the collection of verbal testimonies of the subjects and their subsequent analysis.