Scientific methods of the research

Scientific methods of the research

Memorize the reading and translate: cognition, logical operations, knowledge, to associate, idealization, induction and deduction, comparison, measurement, whole, a purpose, nature, prototypes, ideal, to be widely used, a general hypothesis, the conclusions, the properties, a purposeful perception, recording equipment, to satisfy, requirements, regularity, purposefulness, to allow, to acquire, geometry, dummies, similarities, the procedure, value, a quantity, precise, quantified information, interference, existence, circumstances, advantages.

Text

1. There are two levels of the scientific cognition: empirical and theoretical. The empirical level includes the observation of phenomena, the selection and accumulation of facts and the establishing of links between them. The theoretical level of knowledge is associated with the prevalence of mental activity. On this level the internal structure of different phenomena, their interaction and interdependence are revealed.

2. The scientific methods can be divided into general and special. General methods are usually divided into two groups:

· theoretical methods (analysis and synthesis, idealization, induction and deduction, etc.),

· empirical methods (observation, modeling, comparison, measurement, experiment).

3. Theoretical methods

Analysis is a method which is based on the decomposition of the object into its component parts. Synthesis is a compound of the obtained in the analysis parts into a whole. Methods of analysis and synthesis are organically linked, and can take various forms depending on the properties of the studied object and the purpose of the study.

4. Idealization is a mental creation of the objects that do not exist in nature, but for which there are prototypes in the real world for example "ideal gas", "ideal solution". The idealization method is widely used not only in the natural but in the social sciences as well.

5. Induction is the conclusion, reasoning from "private" to "general", from facts to a general hypothesis. Deductive method is the conclusion reasoning from the general to the particular. That is, new knowledge about the object is obtained by studying the properties of the whole class of objects.

6. Empirical methods.

Observation is an active learning process based primarily on the work of human senses; it is a purposeful perception of the external world phenomena. This is the simplest method and it is usually one of the elements of the other empirical methods. We distinguish between direct (visual) observation when the information is obtained without any instruments and indirect observation when the information is obtained by means of some devices for example recording equipment. Observation must satisfy a number of the requirements the most important of which are regularity and purposefulness.

7. Modeling is a method of studying objects which allows acquiring knowledge by means of substitutes (models) of real objects. There are several types of material models: space-like (geometrically similar) – models or dummies; physically like and mathematically like.

8. Comparison is one of the most common methods of cognition. It allows setting the similarities and differences between objects and phenomena. The comparison must satisfy two main requirements: we should compare only those phenomena that can be compared in a certain objective community; we should compare objects only on their main features.

9. Measurement is the procedure of the determining of a quantity by the unit of measurement. Among the empirical methods measurement takes the same place as observation and comparison.

A special case of observation is an experiment. The experiment involves interference in the natural conditions of the objects existence or reproduction of certain parts in special circumstances. Experiment has some advantages: it gives the opportunity to study the phenomenon in its “pure form”, it allows investigating the object properties in extreme conditions, and it can be repeated.

Задания

1. Give definitions to the following notions:modeling,measurement,observation, comparison, analysis, experiment, idealization, induction, deduction.

2. Give all types of questions to the following sentences:There aretwo levels of the scientific cognition. The empirical level is a stage of collecting data.

3. Is it true or false? We distinguish three levels of the scientific cognition. A man can obtain knowledge empirically and theoretically. The empirical level is a stage of collecting data about objects. The theoretical level of knowledge is associated with the physical activity. The scientific methods can be divided into logical and illogical. Methods of theoretical studies are abstraction, analysis and synthesis, etc. Empirical research methods are observation, modeling, comparison, etc.

Сравните.

1. I am writing an exercise now. I was writing an exercise at this time yesterday. I will be writing an exercise at this time tomorrow.

2. My little sister (sleep) now. She (sleep) already at 9 o’clock yesterday. She (sleep) from 9 till 12 p.m. tomorrow.

3. My friends (not to do) their homework now. They (play) football. My friends (not to do) their homework the whole evening yesterday. They (play) football. My friends (not to do) their homework the whole evening tomorrow. They (play) football.

4. You (drink) tea now? You (drink) tea at 7 p.m. yesterday? You (drink) tea at 7 p.m. tomorrow?

Scientific methods of the research

Memorize the reading and translate: cognition, logical operations, knowledge, to associate, idealization, induction and deduction, comparison, measurement, whole, a purpose, nature, prototypes, ideal, to be widely used, a general hypothesis, the conclusions, the properties, a purposeful perception, recording equipment, to satisfy, requirements, regularity, purposefulness, to allow, to acquire, geometry, dummies, similarities, the procedure, value, a quantity, precise, quantified information, interference, existence, circumstances, advantages.

Text

1. There are two levels of the scientific cognition: empirical and theoretical. The empirical level includes the observation of phenomena, the selection and accumulation of facts and the establishing of links between them. The theoretical level of knowledge is associated with the prevalence of mental activity. On this level the internal structure of different phenomena, their interaction and interdependence are revealed.

2. The scientific methods can be divided into general and special. General methods are usually divided into two groups:

· theoretical methods (analysis and synthesis, idealization, induction and deduction, etc.),

· empirical methods (observation, modeling, comparison, measurement, experiment).

3. Theoretical methods

Analysis is a method which is based on the decomposition of the object into its component parts. Synthesis is a compound of the obtained in the analysis parts into a whole. Methods of analysis and synthesis are organically linked, and can take various forms depending on the properties of the studied object and the purpose of the study.

4. Idealization is a mental creation of the objects that do not exist in nature, but for which there are prototypes in the real world for example "ideal gas", "ideal solution". The idealization method is widely used not only in the natural but in the social sciences as well.

5. Induction is the conclusion, reasoning from "private" to "general", from facts to a general hypothesis. Deductive method is the conclusion reasoning from the general to the particular. That is, new knowledge about the object is obtained by studying the properties of the whole class of objects.

6. Empirical methods.

Observation is an active learning process based primarily on the work of human senses; it is a purposeful perception of the external world phenomena. This is the simplest method and it is usually one of the elements of the other empirical methods. We distinguish between direct (visual) observation when the information is obtained without any instruments and indirect observation when the information is obtained by means of some devices for example recording equipment. Observation must satisfy a number of the requirements the most important of which are regularity and purposefulness.

7. Modeling is a method of studying objects which allows acquiring knowledge by means of substitutes (models) of real objects. There are several types of material models: space-like (geometrically similar) – models or dummies; physically like and mathematically like.

8. Comparison is one of the most common methods of cognition. It allows setting the similarities and differences between objects and phenomena. The comparison must satisfy two main requirements: we should compare only those phenomena that can be compared in a certain objective community; we should compare objects only on their main features.

9. Measurement is the procedure of the determining of a quantity by the unit of measurement. Among the empirical methods measurement takes the same place as observation and comparison.

A special case of observation is an experiment. The experiment involves interference in the natural conditions of the objects existence or reproduction of certain parts in special circumstances. Experiment has some advantages: it gives the opportunity to study the phenomenon in its “pure form”, it allows investigating the object properties in extreme conditions, and it can be repeated.

Задания

1. Give definitions to the following notions:modeling,measurement,observation, comparison, analysis, experiment, idealization, induction, deduction.

2. Give all types of questions to the following sentences:There aretwo levels of the scientific cognition. The empirical level is a stage of collecting data.

3. Is it true or false? We distinguish three levels of the scientific cognition. A man can obtain knowledge empirically and theoretically. The empirical level is a stage of collecting data about objects. The theoretical level of knowledge is associated with the physical activity. The scientific methods can be divided into logical and illogical. Methods of theoretical studies are abstraction, analysis and synthesis, etc. Empirical research methods are observation, modeling, comparison, etc.