Any scientific field is based on a number of methods and mechanisms. Their totality is a separate doctrine, called the methodology of science. In the traditional sense, this is a section of the general theory of knowledge, one of the sections of philosophy. The content and concept of the methodology of science will be described in detail in our material.
Methodology concept
Any research activity should be based on a number of principles and approaches. A scientist, receiving and developing knowledge within a particular discipline, must remember the unspoken rules for the formation of scientific material. The methodology of science, the oldest academic direction, will help him in this.
The main task of the methodology is to provide the heuristic form of cognition with strictly verified and tested methods, norms, principles and rules. Methodology should not be confused with methodology. If the first concept is a combination of various elements that indicate the construction of a certain norm, then the methodology is a ready-made "recipe" for carrying out certainaction.
To be successful in research, a scientist must have the "secret" of scientific thinking. He is able to create rules on his own, but can refer to a ready-made collection of principles and norms. Mastering methodological knowledge is a prerequisite for any researcher. This will help in quickly and efficiently finding certain ways and solving a number of problems.
Methodology of science: history and development
The first attempts to systematize knowledge were noticed in the period of antiquity. The ancient philosophers tried to find the truth, and they brought their attempts into a certain structure. This helped them quickly find answers to certain questions. It is worth recalling, for example, the Socratic method of dialogue. The Athenian thinker systematically and unhurriedly sought the truth. To do this, he took the point of "ignorance", after which he asked the interlocutor questions. The answers received were already forming a certain system.
Plato, Aristotle, Francis Bacon, Rene Descartes, Kant, Hegel and other great minds could contribute to the development of the methodology. Moreover, most of them formed a system of principles unconsciously. Scientists proceeded from their own ideas about science, and their followers formed the necessary rules.
It is known that Aristotle proposed one of the most important principles of scientificity. He compiled two methods for obtaining reliable information, logical-destructive and experimental-inductive (in other words, theoretical and practical). Kant studied the boundariesknowledge, and Hegel systematized the system of scientific knowledge.
Social progress has turned science into the largest area of professional relations. Scattered attempts to find the truth are a thing of the past. Already in the 20th century, scientists were guided not by a purely cognitive interest, but by a clear and meaningful plan. Contributed to this, of course, scientific methodology.
Methodology levels
Scientists identify many classifications, which provide levels of methodological knowledge. One of the most relevant systems was compiled by E. G. Yudin. He distinguishes four levels:
- Philosophical level - the highest level. The presence of general principles of knowledge from the categorical scientific apparatus. Philosophical categories, patterns, approaches and laws perform strictly systemic functions at this level.
- General scientific stage. The presence of theoretical provisions applicable to all or most scientific disciplines.
- Specific scientific level. It is a set of principles and methods used in a particular scientific field.
- Technological stage. At this stage, the technique and methodology of the study is drawn up. Procedures are selected to ensure that reliable empirical material is obtained. It is being processed first. Methodological knowledge at this stage has a pronounced normative character.
All the presented stages are interconnected. At the same time, the philosophical level acts here as a basic one.
Methodology functions
History shows how the system of academic principlesand mechanisms was able to improve the entire scientific field. Social evolution contributed to the systematic development of various knowledge areas. She made them more slender and meaningful. What explains this? The scientists themselves give the answer.
They highlight several features of scientific methodology:
- Worldview interpretation of scientific results. Any discoveries, facts or acquired data must be explained in terms of morality and ethics. This contributes to the rapid inclusion of the received data into the general knowledge system.
- Ensuring clarity and clarity of the problem. This applies to both content and form. On the basis of methodological principles and forms, it will be possible to correctly formulate a question that needs to be addressed.
- Developing strategies for the development of practice and science. It helps shape scientific prospects.
- Formation of certain means to solve the tasks. Psychoanalytic methodology promotes the study of the psyche and the elements that affect it. We are talking about the archetypes of the collective unconscious, interpretation, etc.
- Description and evaluation of research activity or practice. Development of recommendations and rules, separate norms that a person should be guided by in their activities.
Thus, the methodology has a fairly large number of different functions. All the tasks presented above give a clear description of the scientific field under consideration.
Role of methodology
What is the placemethodological knowledge in a series of other sciences? Traditionally, the discipline under consideration is referred to as philosophy. Moreover, each scientific field can have its own system of methods. For example, the methodology of historical science assumes the presence of such elements as forecasting, typology, classification, subject modeling, and much more. Some of these tools can be applied to other humanities.
Such examples give a clear idea of the place of methodology in the system of scientific knowledge. Researchers can choose the tool they need for further work. And a well-built system of academic methods will help them in this.
Scientists have developed a scheme to better understand the place of methodology in the system of scientific knowledge:
| PHILOSOPHY | ||
| Mathematics | Central sciences: physics, chemistry, biology, social studies and more | Practical sciences: medicine, pedagogy, technology, methodology |
The question of what is the methodology of science can be considered settled. Next, you need to understand the main approaches in this area.
System approach
The first method of the science of methodology is called the system method. It is used in the study of complex, organically formed elements. A systematic approach is often used in the methodology of pedagogical science. For example, certain objects are examined. Their external andinternal connections, all components of the object are considered, taking into account the place and functions performed.
The systemic approach is implemented on the basis of certain principles. Highlight here:
- Integrity. Reflects the specifics of system properties, as well as the dependence of each element on its place and functions.
- Structural. Allows you to describe the system through the disclosure of a set of connections and relationships between elements.
- Hierarchy. It involves considering the object through the prism of three aspects: as an independent system, as a system from a high hierarchy, and as a system of a higher level in relation to its elements.
- Principle of multiple representation of the system.
- Historicism. Assumes consideration of the system through the prism of its development.
- The principle of interdependence of internal and external systemic factors.
Thus, a systematic approach involves considering an object as a set of interrelated components that make it up. The education system, for example, will be divided into goals, content, forms, methods and means of implementation.
Comprehensive approach
In the theory and methodology of science, a complex method of research is often used. Characteristic for him:
- analysis of complexes as real objects of reality;
- determination of the essential features of existing complexes;
- identifying the essence of an integrated approach based on its relationship with a systematic approach.
An integrated approach is often understood as part of a systematic one. So, "systematic" refers to the field of knowledge of the object, and "complexity" - to the field of object management.
The considered approach is widely used in the methodology of legal science. Thus, the system of methods of legal disciplines is characterized by the following features:
- polysystem - an abundance of a large number of connections and elements;
- permeated with a common goal or idea;
- functioning of a pronounced subjective factor;
- belonging to the sphere of the social form of the movement of matter;
- functioning with increasing or maximum efficiency;
- union in a complex of various subsystems;
- search for resources to improve the system.
An integrated approach, unlike a systematic one, is more practice-oriented. It is widely used in the methodology of legal sciences - sociology and political science.
Personal and activity approaches
The personal approach is widely used in the humanitarian fields. For example, in psychology, it gives ideas about the active, social and creative essence of a person as a person.
Recognition of the individual as a product of socio-historical development does not allow personal information to penetrate into human nature. There is a focus on the person only as a goal, subject and result of social development.
The next approach is called activity approach. Activity -it is a basic condition for the development of personality. Thanks to actions, an expedient transformation of the surrounding world is realized. The tasks of the researcher include the choice and organization of the activity of a particular subject. The genesis of the source, its evolution and transformation are being studied.
The activity approach is widely used in the history and methodology of legal sciences. This is manifested in the decomposition of legal norms into a hypothesis (event), disposition (condition) and sanction (consequence).
Both personal and activity approach are used in the humanitarian field of knowledge. The methodology of science and philosophy involves the use of most of the tools in social-theoretical areas. Strict laws and clear rules have been prepared for the natural and technical sciences.
Humanitarian approaches
The remaining approaches and methods of scientific methodology should be given a brief analysis. So, the content approach is quite common. Essences of processes and phenomena are studied, the totality of their elements is revealed. The interaction between parts of the system is analyzed.
The formal approach has become widespread. It provides for the extraction of stable and relatively unchanging phenomena from existing processes. Phenomena, in turn, are considered in a "pure" form, without connection with the general process. The considered tool allows to reveal stable links between the elements of a separate process. For example, in the methodology of history and legal science, a formal approach is used to identify specific facts - legal or historical.
BThe logical approach is widely used in the humanitarian sphere. It allows us to consider the object under study in the form of its theory. The method of using logic helps to analyze a phenomenon at the point of its development, which it has reached by a certain time period.
The historical approach is used not only in historical science. It is widely used in almost all humanitarian fields. The method under consideration allows us to follow the development of a particular scientific field. This will help in forming a clearer picture of what is happening.
The last approach is called essential. It is needed to reveal the deep sides of the phenomenon under study. The mechanisms and driving forces of a certain phenomenon are being investigated.
The ratio of scientific and practical activities
Methodology is a complex system used by all sciences in the world. It combines both theoretical and practical aspects of activity. The best known theoretical methods are deduction and induction.
Deduction is a method of research based on the principle of deriving particular provisions from a general system. Induction is the formation of a general picture from a multitude of particular phenomena. The phenomenon under consideration corresponds to the concepts of analysis and synthesis. Analysis corresponds to induction, and synthesis corresponds to deduction.
Theoretical methods can be logical, historical, axiomatic and hypothetical. Each of the presented tools combines something from analysis and synthesis.
Methodologymay be practical. In this case, we are talking about the concept of experiment. In turn, the experiment can be full-scale and computational. Full-scale involves direct interaction with the necessary object, and computational - interaction by applying different formulas and techniques.
The philosophy and methodology of science is incredibly multifaceted. They combine many research tools, techniques and techniques. It is only important that they meet two conditions: relevance and effectiveness.
