Methods of Psychological Research

Psychology for the accumulation of scientific data uses a whole range of special methods. For this science it is extremely important how the knowledge is obtained. L.Vygotsky believed that the facts obtained with the help of different cognitive principles, represent completely different facts.

The facts obtained in the empirical study are determined by the influence of research schemes, hypotheses, already available knowledge about the object under study and other factors. Therefore, the methodology and methods of psychological research are one of the most significant and debated problems of psychology as a science.

Methods of psychological research are methods of researching and studying the psychological characteristics of different people, analyzing and processing collected psychological information, as well as obtaining scientific conclusions on the basis of research facts. Methods are used to solve specific research problems in the field of psychology.

The main methods of psychological research are experiment and observation. Each of these methods appears in specific forms and is characterized by different subspecies and features.

Methods of psychological research are aimed at revealing the features, regularities, mechanisms of the psyche of individuals and social groups, as well as for a similar study of mental processes and phenomena. Each method has its own capabilities, but it also has certain limitations. These features should be taken into account in practice, professional and other types of activities.

Research in the field of psychology has the focus on obtaining an objective result, a true knowledge of certain capabilities of the psyche. For this, it is necessary to master certain methods of psychology and methods of professional-psychological research and human studies.

Methods of psychological research can be classified. In this issue different approaches are distinguished. For example, B. Ananiev distinguishes the following groups of research methods in psychology.

Organizational - include comparative analysis (comparison of subjects according to a certain criterion: type of activity, age, etc.), longitudinal method (long-term study of one phenomenon), complex (representatives of different sciences, different means of study are involved in the study).

Empirical - a collection of primary information. They identify observational methods (which are understood as observation and introspection.

Experiments - methods, including field, laboratory, natural, formative and ascertaining research.

Psychodiagnostic - test methods that are divided into tests, standardized, interviews, interviews, questionnaires, sociometrics, questionnaires, etc.

Praximetric - methods of analyzing phenomena, products of mental activity, such as chronometry, biographical method; Professiogram, cyclography, evaluation of products of activity; modeling.

Data processing methods that include quantitative (statistical) and qualitative (analysis and differentiation of materials by group), they allow us to establish patterns that are hidden from direct perception.

Interpretation methods assume separate methods of explaining the dependencies and regularities that are revealed during the statistical processing of data and their comparison with already known facts. This includes typological classification, genetic method, structural, psychography, psychological profile.

Principles of psychological research : non-damage to the subject, competence, impartiality, confidentiality, informed consent.