General logical methods and techniques of research

The general logical methods and techniquesse include: analysis, synthesis, abstraction, idealization, generalization, induction, deduction, analogy, modeling, system approach, probabilistic (statistical) methods.

Analysis is a division of the object into its component parts for the purpose of its separate study. The types of analysis are:

— mechanical separation of parts;

— definition of dynamic composition of parts of the whole;

— identifying forms of interaction between parts;

— finding the causes of phenomena;

— identify the level of knowledge and its structure and so on.

A kind of analysis is the division of a class (set) of objects into the subclasses, i.e. the classification and periodization.

Synthesis is a union of various parts of the object together. It can be real or mental. The synthesis is not arbitrary, eclectic mix of disparate parts, "slices" of the whole, but the dialectical unity with the release of the essence.

It is necessary to distinguish between the analysis and synthesis of the scientific research on the analysis and synthesis of the formal logic. The logic synthesis realizes any combination of parts according to a given criteria. In the scientific research, the synthesis includes only the information that suits the determining characteristics.

Analysis objective is a selection of the main parts of which the object is emerged and developed.

Synthesis objective is to recreate the appearance and development of the object.

In today's scientific knowledge, the theoretical analysis and synthesis are tied with the practical analysis and synthesis, i.e., with the practice of experimentation and the social practice at all.

Abstraction is a process of abstraction from a number of properties and rela­tions in the phenomenon that is studied with simultaneous selection of the properties (especially significant, general properties), which are interesting to researchers.

There are different kinds of abstraction:

— identification abstraction,

— isolating abstraction,

— abstraction of the actual infinity,

— abstraction of the potential implementability.

The abstractions also distinguish the level (order):

— first order abstraction, i.e. the abstraction of real objects,

— second-order abstraction, i.e. the abstraction of abstractions of the first level.

Idealization is an imaginary procedure that is associated with the formation of abstract (idealized) objects that really is fundamentally unrealistic ( "infinite state machine", "system with zero delays," etc.), but are those for which there are prototypes in the real world .

In the process of idealization, a distraction from the real properties of the object is performed, while the unrealistic features are introduced to the content of the concept. The result is a so-called "idealized object", which can be used by theoretical thinking while investigating the real objects.

Generalizationis a process when an object is getting the general properties and characteristics. It is closely related to abstraction.

Induction is a logical study method that associated with integrating the results of observation and experiment and the movement of thought from the individual properties to the general ones. As the experience is always infinite, then the inductive generalizations have the problematic (probabilistic) character. Inductive generaliza­tions are regarded as the research concepts or empirical laws.

Deduction is:

1) the transition of knowledge from the general to the concrete, the inference of the concrete to the general;

2) the process of the logic inference, that is a set of logic decisions from the logic offers and relations to the consequences (conclusions).

The essence of the deduction is to use common scientific research rules for the investigation of specific events.

The induction is used for the generalization of the empirical material and for the hypothesis promotion. But the deduction allows the scientist to organize logically the experimental data and to construct a theory.

Analogy is the establishing some similarities in the properties of the unidentical objects. The conclusion by the analogy is based on the detected similarities. The analogy gives not the reliable but the probabilistic knowledge. In the conclusion by the analogy, the knowledge, which is derived from consideration of a particular object ( "model"), is transferred to other, less explored and less available object under research.

Modeling is a method of research the objects using their models.

Model is an analog of a particular fragment of reality.

Due to the nature of the model the following modelings are distinguished:

— material (substantive) modeling;

— perfect modeling, which is performed using formulas, algorithms, etc.

System approach is a combination of general methodological principles (requirements), which are based on consideration of the object as a system. Among these requirements are:

a) identifying the dependencies of each element on its place and function in the system, taking into account that a property can not be reduced to the sum of the properties of these elements;

b) analysis of how the behavior of the system is due to features of its individual elements and properties of its structure;

c) study of the mechanism of interaction of the system and the environment;

d) study of the hierarchy inherent in the system;

e) comprehensive and multidimensional description of the system;

g) consideration of the system as a dynamic integrity which is under developing.

Probabilistic and statistical methods are based on considering that multiple random factors are characterized by stable occurring frequency. The probabilistic methods are based on the probability theory.