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.
