Introduction

The current stage of scientific and technological development of society places new, much higher demands on the creative potential of specialists, which implies mastery of new scientific methods, the ability to navigate the flow of scientific information, and find the most rational design, technological, and organizational solutions.

Specialists in various fields of study are increasingly faced with tasks that require, in addition to professional qualifications, knowledge of methods for processing observation results, planning experiments, mathematical modeling methods, and optimizing research processes. Therefore, a modern specialist must have not only deep professional training, but also a certain amount of knowledge in the field of scientific research, which involves mastering the methodological principles of scientific work, the ability to collect and process information, develop research programs, analyze the results obtained and present them in the form of a scientific report. 

Along with the practical skills of conducting scientific research, a prerequisite for effective and successful scientific activity is the readiness of a person to research, his or her search activity, productive research behavior, a strong desire for creative scientific research and a set of individual psychological and characteristic features that will ensure high efficiency of his or her professional functioning.

In this section, you will be able to familiarize yourself with the basic scientific terms, concepts, principles, planning features, methods, structure and technology of theoretical and experimental research. You will find here all the information you need for your research activities and to expand your knowledge of the methods and organization of research activities.

The purpose of this section is to highlight the methodological and organizational issues of research activities, which will help you navigate the complex process of scientific research.

Subject of research – a structure of the system, the laws of interaction of elements within and outside the system, the regularity of its development, various properties and qualities of this system.

Scientific field – a science or a complex of sciences within which a certain scientific work is performed. There are technical, biological, historical, and other fields with possible further elaboration.

Research area – a field of study of a research team that has been solving a particular problem for a certain period of time.

Problem – a form of scientific knowledge that states the insufficiency of the level of knowledge achieved to date.

Scientific problem – a question that requires a scientific solution; a set of new dialectically complex theoretical or practical issues that contradict existing knowledge or applied methods in a particular science and need to be solved through scientific research. 

Relevance. The research work should be relevant, that is, aimed at solving specific and useful tasks that are important in this area of science. Determining the relevance of the topic is based on the study of special periodicals and production, participation in exhibitions, conferences, etc.

Definition of the subject and object of research

Object of research – a process or phenomenon that generates a problem situation and is selected for study. 

Subject of research – a phenomenon or process that is within the object and is considered as an element, a part of the object of research. 

The object and subject of research, as categories of the scientific process, are related to each other as general and particular. The object distinguishes its part, which is the subject of research. It is the subject of research that the researcher focuses on, since the subject of research determines the topic of research.

One of the most important creative stages of solving a problem is to determine the purpose and objectives of the research.

The concept of scientific research methodology

Methodology is a type of rational and reflective consciousness aimed at studying, improving, and constructing methods. The concept of "methodology" has two main meanings: first, it is a system of certain rules, principles and operations used in a particular field of activity (science, politics, art, etc.); second, it is a doctrine about this system, a general theory of method.

Methodology has different functions: 

- determines the ways of obtaining scientific knowledge that reflect the dynamics of processes and phenomena; 

- provides a special way to achieve the research goal; 

- ensures the comprehensiveness of information about the process or phenomenon under study; 

- helps to enter new information; 

- provides clarification, enrichment and systematization of terms and concepts in science; 

- creates a system of scientific information based on objective phenomena and a logical and analytical tool of cognition. 

The methodology has two aspects: theoretical and normative.

The theoretical aspect involves determining the basic laws of this branch of knowledge as the initial positions of scientific research, identifying and evaluating the social value, social role of the theory or theoretical position, recommendations (worldview function). 

The normative aspect covers the study of general principles of approaching different objects of reality, different classes of scientific tasks, and the study of the system of general and special methods and techniques of scientific research.

The concept of scientific research method

A method (from the Greek - a way of knowing) is a way, a way of knowing and practical transformation of real reality, a system of techniques and principles that regulate the practical and later activities of people. 

Thus, in the context of scientific research, a method is defined as a set of certain rules, techniques, methods and norms of cognition of a certain subject or phenomenon.

In modern science, a multi-level methodological classification of methods of scientific knowledge is successfully working, according to which, according to the 8th degree of commonality and scope, methods of scientific knowledge are divided into general philosophical, general scientific, separate scientific, disciplinary and interdisciplinary research methods.

General methods are a system of principles and techniques that are general, universal, abstract, not strictly regulated, not amenable to formalization and mathematization, and do not replace special methods (methods of individual sciences). 

Methods of individual sciences are a set of methods and principles of cognition, research techniques and procedures used in a particular science. 

General scientific research methods can be classified depending on the levels of knowledge - empirical or theoretical - at which they (methods) are applied.

At the empirical level, live contemplation (sensory cognition) prevails, and the rational moment is present but has a subordinate meaning. Therefore, the object under study is reflected mainly from the side of external relations and manifestations that are accessible to live contemplation. Collecting facts, their initial description, generalization, and systematization are characteristic features of empirical knowledge. 

The main methods used at the empirical level of research include: observation, comparison, measurement, experiment, abstraction, analysis and synthesis. The theoretical level of research is associated with a deeper analysis of the facts, with penetration into the essence of the phenomena under study, with cognition and formulation of laws, i.e. with explanation of real reality.

 The main methods used at the theoretical level of research include induction and deduction, idealization, formalization, and others. 

Observation is a purposeful, systematic, systematic, systematic, active study of objects and phenomena of real reality that occur in a natural state or in the conditions of a scientific experiment. Observation is also understood as approbation, substantiation of hypotheses or intermediate research results. A scientist uses observation to collect scientific facts to find a way to solve a problem (to formulate and prove a hypothesis).

Scientific facts are the facts of reality reflected by consciousness, verified, comprehended and recorded by the language of science in the form of empirical judgments. 

Comparison is one of the most common methods of cognition, which allows us to establish similarities and differences between objects and phenomena. No wonder they say that "everything is learned by comparison". Comparison reveals what is common to a number of objects. A type of comparison is an analogy. 

Analogy is a method of scientific research that helps to achieve knowledge of some objects and phenomena based on their similarity to others. One of the types of analogies is the method of modeling. 

Modeling is a method of scientific cognition based on replacing the object or phenomenon under study with its analog - a model that contains essential features of the original. 

Measurement is a research method that determines the numerical value of a certain value using a unit of measurement of an object. 

Experiment is a method of empirical research based on the active and purposeful intervention of a subject in the process of scientific cognition of phenomena and objects of real reality by creating controlled and managed conditions that allow to identify certain qualities, connections in the object under study and repeatedly reproduce them.

Abstraction is a method that allows you to move from specific issues to general concepts and laws of development. The essence of this method is to significantly distract from non-essential properties, connections, relations, objects and to simultaneously highlight and record certain aspects of these objects that interest the researcher. 

Concretization is a method of studying subjects in all their diversity, in the qualitative diversity of real existence, as opposed to the abstract study of subjects. 

Analysis is a method of research that consists in the mental or practical division of the whole into its constituent parts, each of which is analyzed separately within the framework of a single whole. 

Synthesis is a method of studying an object in its integrity, in a single mutual relationship of its parts. In the process of scientific research, synthesis is related to analysis, as it allows to combine the parts of the subject (object or phenomenon), dismembered in the process of analysis, to establish their relationship and to cognize the subject (object or phenomenon) as a whole. 

Induction is a method of research in which a general conclusion about the characteristics of a set of elements is drawn on the basis of studying these characteristics in some elements of the same set. 

Deduction is a method of logical conclusion from the general to the particular, i.e., first the state of the object as a whole is studied, and then its constituent elements.  

Formalization is a method of studying various objects by representing their structure in a sign form with the help of artificial languages, for example, the language of mathematics.

The historical method of research is an important tool for understanding social phenomena and processes. Its essence lies in the study of all phenomena and processes in dynamic development, formation and in connection with specific stages of the history of society.

Choosing the direction of scientific research. The concept of a scientific problem

A scientific problem is a question that requires a scientific solution; a task for finding the unknown; a set of new dialectically complex theoretical or practical issues that contradict existing knowledge or applied methods in a particular science and need to be solved with the help of scientific research. 

The correct statement and clear formulation of the problem is no less important than its solution. The choice of a problem largely determines both the research strategy in general and the direction of scientific research in particular. The sources of scientific problems are both practice and the needs of science itself (the need to improve research methods, refine the category and conceptual apparatus, etc.) Depending on the method of solution, all problems can be divided into three types: informational, analog, and hypothetical. 

An informational problem is characteristic of a problem statement. The key to solving an informational problem is found in the literature. 

An analog problem (similar ways of solving) is characteristic of a group of practical problems. A problem of this type does not always require a new solution (even if there are new facts), but is solved by analogy.

Hypothetical problems are solved through judgments and inferences in the course of making assumptions, hypotheses, testing and substantiating them.

Any scientific work begins with the formulation of a problem:

A topic is a part of a scientific problem that covers one or more research questions. The choice of a topic is preceded by a thorough familiarization with domestic and foreign sources of information on the chosen area of research. 

A topic is not just a title of a research paper, but a planned research result aimed at solving a specific issue.

Topics are divided into theoretical, methodological, and organizational. 

Theoretical topics involve the study of individual concepts of the theory of the relevant science that relate to its scientific laws. 

Methodological topics concern the elements of the methods of specific sciences used in the process of studying their objects. 

Organizational topics include the organization of research in specific scientific areas and the application of the results obtained in practical activities.

The process of forming a research topic includes the following stages:

The research objective is the expected end result that determines the general direction and logic of the research (theoretical or applied). The goal is specified and developed in the research objectives.

The objectives of a scientific research are usually as follows

- solving theoretical issues related to the research problem 

- Identification, clarification, deepening, methodological substantiation of the essence, nature, structure of the object under study

- Identification of ways and means to improve the phenomenon or process under study. Justification of the system of measures necessary to solve applied problems;

- Experimental testing of the developed proposals for solving the problem, preparation of methodological recommendations for their application in practice.

Any scientific research is conducted in a certain sequence:

1) formulation of the topic, purpose and objectives of the research; 

2) theoretical research 

3) experimental research; 

4) analysis and formalization of the results of scientific research; 

5) implementation and effectiveness of the research. 

Regardless of the topic, a research paper must contain the following sections:

- Introduction; 

- literature review; 

- experimental part; 

- conclusions and suggestions;

- list of references; 

- appendices.

The introduction should briefly describe the essence and state of the scientific problem (task), its significance, the grounds and initial data for developing the topic, and the justification for the need to conduct the research. In the introduction, it is enough to express the main thing - the essence of the problem - in a few sentences. The relevance and appropriateness of the work are substantiated by critical analysis and comparison with known solutions to the problem (research task). 

Justifying the relevance involves answering the question: why should this problem be studied at this time? The relevance should not be verbose. Based on the identified problem and the substantiated relevance of the study, the purpose of the work is formulated and the tasks are defined. The literature review describes the state of the art of the research question based on the information previously processed. At the end of the review, the necessity of performing this work is justified. 

Based on the review, the research content is formulated and planned. The review must include references to the sources of literature used. 

At the beginning of the experimental part, the following is presented: 

- general plan of the research; 

- objects of research and their characteristics; 

- methods of solving problems and their comparative evaluation, the number of repeated experiments, new and little-known characteristics of the equipment and research methods are described, while well-known methods and analyzes are only referred to. 

Then, the course of the study is described sequentially, indicating the technological regularities that were studied. The results of the study, if possible, should be presented in the form of tables, graphs, and diagrams. The calculation tables are presented in the appendix to the paper. 

The next section of the paper should contain conclusions and suggestions, i.e. summarize the results of the research work. It provides data on new technological processes; development of scientific foundations and new research methods and principles; streamlining of algorithms and programs of technological processes; new qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the objects under study, etc. The first paragraph of the conclusions briefly assesses the state of the art. Next, the methods of solving the specified scientific problem (task), their practical analysis, and comparison with known solutions are described. The conclusions should emphasize the qualitative and quantitative indicators of the results obtained, substantiate their reliability, and provide recommendations for their scientific and practical use.

Sources in the list of references should be cited in one of the following ways: in the order of appearance of references in the text, in alphabetical order of the first authors' names or titles, in chronological order. 

The appendices should include auxiliary material that gives an idea of the scope of the experimental work, etc. The completed, bound work is signed by the author.

Search, accumulation, and processing of scientific information.

In a broad sense, information is knowledge, information, data that is obtained and accumulated in the process of development of science and in the practical activities of people; in a narrow sense, it is data that is the object of processing, transmission and storage. 

Scientific information is a set of any information about the state and changes in the parameters of research objects or their compliance with regulatory acts; one of the general concepts of science is new information about the world around us.

A scientific document, or a document of scientific and technical information, is a carrier in which scientific information (data) or scientific and technical information is recorded in one way or another, and which should indicate by whom, where and when it was created. Scientific and technical information documents are represented by the following main groups: printed, typewritten (handwritten).

Search for the necessary information

Experience shows that approximately 30-40% of the literature sources initially selected by their title turn out to be unhelpful when working on a topic.

2) the motivational aspect, which considers how the researcher's interest is directed to the object of research, how the conflict between new facts and the old categorical structure of his or her thinking is resolved.

Motives - the motivators of activity, the life of the subject, which are formed under the influence of conditions and determine the direction of his activity. 

Motives are 

- internal - primary in relation to scientific work and formed in accordance with the needs of the individual in cognition and development 

- external - secondary and formed under the influence of the external environment.

In the process of scientific activity, an intrinsic motivation is the satisfaction of the work process itself, the desire for intellectual success, the desire to solve and find problems. 

An intrinsically motivated scientist is passionate about research, the course of his or her own reasoning, and is driven by interest and excitement for research. 

External motives can only serve as a driver of research activity if they are intrinsically motivated. 

Thus, the greatest effect from scientific work can be achieved if there is intrinsic motivation.

Reference:

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  видання. / О.В.Галян. Луцьк : Вежа-Друк, 2021. 26 с.

• Важинський С.Е., Щербак Т І. : Методика та організація наукових досліджень : Навч. 

посіб. / С. Е. Важинський, Т І. Щербак. – Суми: СумДПУ імені А. С. Макаренка, 2016. – 260 с.

• Методологія та організація наукових досліджень: конспект лекцій / укладач: д-р техн. наук, проф. О. М. Коробочка – Дніпродзержинськ : Вид-во ДДТУ, 2015. – 99 с.

• Грицан О.А., Зеліско А.В., Кульчак Л.С. Методичні вказівки по написанню наукових робіт та критеріїв оцінювання різних форм наукової діяльності студентів / Ольга Анатоліївна Грицан, Алла Володимирівна Зеліско, Леся Степанівна Кульчак. 

Івано-Франківськ: Юридичний інститут Прикарпатського національного університету імені Василя Стефаника, 2014. – 27 с.