The most important methods of scientific research

Among the main principles of scientific knowledge exist such as truth and applicability in practice. It is with this goal that all modern scientific discoveries are made, with the help of which humanity tries to make its existence as easy as possible. However, in order to make a scientific discovery, it is necessary to skillfully use various methods of scientific research.

Scientific knowledge involves the use of empirical and theoretical levels of research. The first is related to the practical side of the issue, since it operates on data obtained from observations and experiments; The second allows you to make any conclusions on the basis of already existing laws and hypotheses. These levels are closely related and the boundary between them is quite unstable. However, for each of them there are different methods of scientific research, that is, the methods that are applicable to obtaining scientific knowledge. Among them are deduction and induction, the formation of hypotheses, analogies, and so on.

The main methods of scientific research are divided into several groups:
1) General philosophical methods having the widest scope.
2) General scientific methods, based on the name, are suitable for any science, but can be applied only at certain levels of obtaining scientific knowledge.
3) Special methods of scientific research. In economics, sociology, chemistry, and other sciences, there are special research methods that allow you to more competently operate with practical possibilities and obtained data.
4) Private techniques are applicable in special cases, when the question of solving a particular problem is posed.

According to another classification, the basic methods of scientific research at the theoretical level of cognition fall into three categories:

1) The axiomatic method
The theory describing this or that phenomenon is based on a number of rules and axioms, from which appropriate conclusions are drawn. The accuracy of the theorems obtained is based on the incontestability of axioms. Obviously, the axiomatic method is most suitable for research in the field of mathematics and logic. By itself, the axiom excludes the appearance of the slightest contradiction, however, the theoretical justification must be verified in practice and only in this case one can accurately speak of the absence of contradictions.

2) Hypothetical-deductive method
The areas of obtaining scientific knowledge, operating with experimental and theoretical material, can also use various methods of scientific research, but the hypothetical-deductive method is preferable . In this case axioms are replaced by hypotheses, the correctness of which is checked by the correspondence of theoretical and practical results. Obviously, this method is most actively used in the natural sciences. Various methods of scientific research in the economy also put the hypothetical-deductive method first. It is in these areas that it is very important to be able not only to think, but also to apply the available knowledge in practice.

3) Descriptive methods
Often dispense with previous methods of scientific research are not suitable for explaining the results. In such cases, go to the category of descriptive methods. They assume the use of various schemes, figures and words to describe experimental data that were not previously known to science and can not be explained on the basis of the available axioms and hypotheses. The experiment itself and the data obtained with its help play an important role here. Descriptive methods are most often used in biology, medical sciences and sociology. The impossibility of applying the previous method is based on the boundedness: its rigid framework does not allow in any way to explain the experimental results.

For any level of scientific knowledge it is important to choose the right method of research, because it will be the key to obtaining true knowledge.