Looking after my little son, I constantly see how he makes new discoveries for himself, observing the world and conducting small experiments. Now he himself does not know what these concepts mean, and how they differ. But when he's a little older, that's what I'll tell him.

My observations and experiences

It's best explained with an example.

I have always loved to observe the objects of the world around me. So, it is very interesting to see how ants behave depending on the weather and time of day.

But more than that, I love experimenting.

I had an amazing experience once when I was a child. From the children's encyclopedia, I learned that the abdomen of ants is transparent. This assumption became my hypothesis, which had to be confirmed or refuted. I made sweet syrups different colors and placed small droplets near the anthill. It's funny, but when the ants drank, their tummies turned the color of a drop of syrup. This confirmed my hypothesis.

Have you guessed how my simple observations of the life of an anthill differed from the experiment?

• In the first case, I just watched (observed) the behavior of insects. While conducting the experiment, I myself had to interact with the subjects by placing colored drops near the anthill.
• While conducting the experiment, I had a hypothesis (from the children's encyclopedia) and a plan of action.
• Observations did not require any equipment (although this is not always true, for example, to observe space objects, you will need a telescope). For the experiment, I needed sugar, water, dyes and other means for making syrup.

Cat watching

Watch your pet. You will notice a lot interesting features. For example, that cats and cats are able to make many different sounds from each other.

Experience "Lava"

This interesting experience one can test the hypothesis that oil is lighter than water, but salt is heavier than oil.

1. Take a glass. Fill it up with water and vegetable oil(2:1). The oil will float on top.
2. Add food coloring.
3. Pour in a spoonful of salt.

"Lava" in the bank

Enjoy "lava" in a glass.

Scientific progress cannot be stopped, and the methods of study environment always improved and became more complex. Observations and experiments have been known for centuries, they are not only compared, but also identified. At the same time, there is a colossal difference between these concepts, which reflects the dynamics of the development of scientific thought.

Observations are studies in which the scientist maintains visual control over the object, allowing events to develop naturally and noting any changes. The result of the work is recorded on the storage medium for further analysis. Observations can be carried out without equipment, as well as with the use of special equipment.

Experiences- these are studies in which objects are placed in an artificially created or natural environment, and the scientist enters into active interaction with the object under study. In the process of experiments, the hypothesis built on the basis of the available theoretical data is confirmed or refuted.

Thus, observations do not involve active interaction with the object. The researcher distances himself from them, fixing the data obtained. This is the main goal - the collection of information, which will then be analyzed. During the experiment, the scientist enters into active interaction with the object. The purpose of this action is to test the hypothesis by confirming it an unlimited number of times.

Experience always has a plan; observation does not. To conduct an experiment, the researcher needs to recreate certain conditions. Observation is carried out in a natural environment, because interference in the life of the objects under study will mean the beginning of the experiment. Both the first and the second methods of research are extremely useful for science; they do not contradict, but mutually complement each other.

1. Influence on the object. Observations do not involve active interaction with the object under study, while experiments are based on such intervention.
2. Use of special equipment. Research can be done naked eye, for the experiment, instruments and other scientific and technical means are always required.
3. Having a plan. Observation is carried out in the same way, the experiment is carried out according to a predetermined scenario.
4. Wednesday. Observation takes place in a natural environment, experience - in an artificial one.
5. Target. Observations are carried out to collect information for subsequent analysis, experiments - to confirm the hypothesis.

Federal Agency for Education

Federal State Educational Institution

Higher professional education

Saint Petersburg State University

Faculty of Journalism

Coursework on the topic

"The main differences between the method of observation and experiment"

Discipline: Fundamentals of the creative activity of a journalist

Completed: student of the 2nd year, 7th group of the full-time department, specialty "Journalism" Tsuman A.P.

Scientific adviser: political candidate. Sciences

Baychik A.V.

St. Petersburg

Introduction 4

Chapter 1. Characteristics of methods 6

1.1 Observation method 6

1.2 Experiment 11

Chapter 2. Analysis of publications 16

Conclusion 20

References 22

Apps 23

Introduction

In the very general meaning method - a way or a way to achieve a goal, a certain way ordered activity. It is also a system of non-material means of cognition and transformation of reality; a way of cognition and practical activity, which is a sequence of certain operations. Method also means a special system for processing and analyzing the content of the phenomenon under study. Today, the method is understood as a way of knowing, studying natural phenomena and public life.

Some researchers believe that journalism does not have its own methods, it borrows them from other sciences of sociology, psychology, the logic of literary criticism, economics 1 . An unequivocal answer to the question of whether it is worth highlighting the specifics of journalism as a science and comparing its methods with other areas scientific activity, not yet. However, in this work we will try not to touch on such "pitfalls".

A journalist in his creative work uses various ways of interpreting situations and phenomena that he witnesses, explains or comments on the facts he encounters. He deals with various forms of knowledge - scientific, non-scientific, thus empirically mastering reality and knowing the world around him. IN ideal the main goal of the knowledge of a journalist is to find the truth and accurately convey this truth to the reader, so the question of the reliability of the facts presented cannot but arise. In many ways, the objectivity and truth of what is written by a journalist depends on the degree of mastery of the methods of mastering reality. Vivid representatives of such methods are observation and experiment. Both of these methods belong to the group of rational-cognitive methods, and more specifically, to the empirical level of knowledge 1 , and their result appears in journalism as a stream of information publications 2 .

So, finding differences between the method of observation and experiment is of interest and topical for research because:

Firstly, today there is a tendency towards complementarity and interpenetration of methods, which increases the level of culture of journalistic work.

Secondly However, it is still important to understand the limits of application of methods and techniques and not allow the possibility of their overlap.

aim work is to analyze and find the main differences between the two methods of journalism - the method of observation and experiment.

The goal is revealed through the following tasks:

explore each method separately;

analyze examples of the use of these methods in journalistic work;

to find distinctive features each method;

draw conclusions from the study.

Chapter 1. Characteristics of methods

1.1 Method of observation

Observation is one of the methods of collecting sociological information that allows you to study the object in many ways, so it is distinguished from traditional methods first of all. The use of this method is associated with obtaining preliminary material about a social object and for obtaining primary information on any problem. As G. V. Lazutina writes, the key link here is “a person's ability to perceive the object-sensory concreteness of the world in the process of audiovisual contacts with it” 1 . Journalistic observation can act both as the main and as an additional method and, unlike the ordinary one, it always has a goal and a clearly defined character. “It is the deliberateness of perception and awareness of tasks that allows you to look - and see” 2 . It is no coincidence that this is one of the very first methods that is explained to students.

The subject of journalistic observation is the person himself, his appearance, character, how and what he says, his behavior, as well as his reaction to what is happening, including various aspects of the relationship and interaction between the individual and the team. Attention is paid to the nature of communication, and the level of culture of the individual, and the means of communication (such as gestures, facial expressions, words, speech), and even the surrounding material environment. Therefore, the method of observation is very often used in the work of a reporter, for which there are many more reasons: a journalist, getting involved in a certain event, has the opportunity to trace its dynamics. The material creates an atmosphere of belonging to what is happening in front of the reporter. The journalist can identify some of the most significant characteristics of the event and determine the factors under the influence of which the characteristics of the objects observed in the event change. Also, direct observation of people's behavior allows you to see inconspicuous, at first glance, details, characteristic personality traits 1 .

There are several types of journalistic observation. They are classified based on different criteria, for example, methods of organization, subject, nature of the information of interest.

On the basis of the first basis, observation is divided into hidden And open. A distinctive feature of open observation is that a journalist, having arrived to perform a task, let's say, in any organization, declares his goal, editorial task, what kind of help he may need from the employees of this organization. So, the people with whom he will communicate know that among them there is a journalist collecting material for publication, they can imagine the nature of this speech (positive or negative) and behave accordingly.

In contrast to open covert surveillance, a journalist does not inform the people whose actions he observes for a certain time that he is a journalist and collects the information he needs, as well as about what kind of information he is interested in. Moreover, they may never know that a journalist was among them. Covert surveillance is most often used in the study of any conflict situations in individual groups or in the course of investigative journalism. Before the investigation, the journalist has a fragment of the information picture, checks it, reconstructs the picture anew. Often a journalist conducting an investigation becomes a participant in an event, influencing its course and shaping the outcome.

Depending on the conditions of studying the subject to which the attention of a journalist is directed, observation can be classified as direct And indirect. In the first case, the author observes the object directly, in the second (because of its remoteness, concealment or other conditions) - using indirect data, that is, indirectly.

Observations are also subdivided according to the temporal criterion: short-term And long. If the publication needs to be prepared as soon as possible, short-term observation is used. Long-term observation is used when it is necessary to study the subject thoroughly and in detail. Long-term observation is not necessarily one-time: a journalist can repeatedly return to the life of a team, observe the changes taking place for several years. This type of observation is widely used when working in analytical genres.

IN structured observation a journalist captures events according to a clearly defined plan, or, more precisely, a procedure, and in unstructured - conducts observation in a free search, focusing only on general ideas about the situation. But still, the journalist should adhere to the indicative plan for conducting the observation. Such a plan helps to correctly determine the aspect of observation, its order and conditions.

field observation involves working in natural conditions, and laboratory- in some situations constructed by a journalist.

Systematic observation implies the journalist's focus on a particular situation at certain periods of time, and unsystematic– spontaneity in the choice of the observed phenomenon. one

Features of journalistic observation can also be predetermined by such a factor as the degree of participation of a journalist in the event he is observing. On this basis, observations can be divided into included And not included. How did A.A. Tertychny, “in the first case, a journalist becomes, for example, a member of the crew of a fishing trawler and works on board along with other fishermen. Non-participant observation is the study of some activity from the outside, while preparing, for example, a report on a volcanic eruption, about sports, etc. 1 Indeed, in the second case, the correspondent tries not to interfere in the course of what is happening, quite consciously taking a neutral position. He, as a rule, is outside the situation and does not contact the participants in the event. This type of observation is most often used to better describe the social atmosphere, for example, around elections, public actions, reforms. Included observation involves the participation of a journalist in the situation itself. He goes for it consciously, changing, for example, a profession or taking root in a certain social group to recognize the object from the inside. "Change of profession" is possible in cases where the reporter is sure that by his unprofessional or unskilled actions he will not cause either physical or moral damage to people. For example, it is contraindicated for media workers to introduce themselves as doctors, lawyers, judges, and public service employees. Such prohibitions are stipulated both by the relevant norms of journalistic ethics and by certain articles of the legislation. The well-known journalist N. Nikitin gives novice journalists specific practical advice: “…the main principle is to be who you say you are” 2 . Thus, the journalist seeks to identify and show the reader some of the situations that are typical for the implementation environment. He sets himself a reporter's task - to take part in the action along with his heroes or experience some kind of difficulties. A report made using the method of participant observation can be a winning form of presenting the material. However, this should not be a simple act, a game of "dressing up". It is important that a journalist has a professional goal - to positively influence a situation or find ways to solve a problem.

Speaking of participant observation, it is important to pay attention to some of the difficulties associated both with this type and with the entire method of observation as a whole. First, it is important to understand that most often we are dealing with some kind of private and unique situations that cannot always be “lost” again. The main problem is the irreversibility of certain phenomena of social life. A journalist has to deal with human emotions, sometimes complex and even conflicting interpersonal relationships. Secondly, the quality of primary information can also be affected by people's subjective assessments, their value orientations, established ideas, stereotypes and interests. “The reaction of people to the presence of an observer is not always unambiguous. But in most cases, people react negatively to the presence of strangers (especially journalists) who are watching them closely. People can change their tactics if they feel or that they are being watched.” one

That is why the information and impressions received by a journalist are in dire need of mandatory rechecking in order to once again be convinced not so much of their reliability, but of their objectivity. Sociologist V. A. Yadov suggests the following rules that should be followed to increase the degree of validity and stability of data:

Classify the elements of events to be observed as detailed as possible, using clear indicators;

If the main observation is carried out by several persons, they compare their impressions and agree on assessments, interpretation of events using a single recording technique, thereby increasing the stability of the observation data;

The same object should be observed in different situations(normal and stressful, standard and conflict), which allows you to see it from different angles;

It is necessary to clearly distinguish and record the content, forms of manifestation of observed events and their quantitative characteristics (intensity, regularity, periodicity, frequency);

It is important to ensure that the description of events is not confused with their interpretation, therefore, the protocol should have special columns for recording factual data and for their interpretation;

In the inclusion or non-participation observation performed by one of the researchers, it is especially important to monitor the validity of the interpretation of the data, striving to cross-check your impressions with the help of various possible interpretations 1 .

So, based on these features of observation, we can say that as an independent method, observation is best used in studies that do not require representative data, as well as in cases where information cannot be obtained by any other methods.

1.2 Experiment

In its general meaning, an experiment is a set of actions performed to test the truth or falsity of a hypothesis or the scientific study of causal relationships between phenomena. The researcher tries to change external conditions so as to affect the object of study. In this case, an external impact on an object is considered a cause, and a change in the state or behavior of an object is considered a consequence.

Translated from Latin, the word "experiment" means "test" or "experience". In general, the experiment is a complex method that combines various methods of collecting material. 1 With its help, the reaction of the object under study to the experimental factor is established, under the influence of which this or that activity of the object under study is manifested. The experiment is divided into the following stages:

Collection of information.

observation of the phenomenon.

1. Developing a hypothesis to explain the phenomenon.

   Development of a theory that explains the phenomenon based on assumptions in a broader sense. 2

The experimental factor can be introduced from the outside, or it can be contained in objects and become such under the control and control of the experimenter. The experiment itself can take place both in a natural environment and in an artificial one. The latter is called "laboratory experiment", and helps to achieve greater accuracy, controllability and persistence of its conditions. The regularity of the manifestation of certain events can be identified by comparing the facts, their systematization.

For a journalistic experiment, the object of which is various human relations, as in other social sciences, the abundance and complexity of factors that influence the state of the object are characteristic. A journalistic experiment has nothing to do with an action that has already taken place and can be carried out on any occasion. It often carries a certain intrigue. It arises because not all participants in the experiment know that they are participating in it.

The method of experiment in journalism is often identified with the method of participant observation, and there are reasons for this:

As in participant observation, the experimental journalist maintains a direct relationship with the object of study.

The experiment, like observation, can be carried out covertly.

The experiment refers to the visual means of studying social reality.

However, despite the fact that the main features are common, the experiment has its own special features and characteristics. “An experiment is understood as a method of research based on controlling the behavior of an object with the help of a number of factors affecting it, the control over the action of which is in the hands of the researcher” 1 . I would also like to point out that the experiment is an "active" method of studying reality. That is, if observation allows you to answer the questions "How?", "When?" and “How?”, the experiment answers one question “Why?”.

In the experiment, the object is a means for creating an artificial situation. This is done so that the journalist can test his hypotheses in practice, "lose" some everyday circumstances that would allow him to better know the object under study. In addition, any experiment contains not only the cognitive interest of a research journalist, but also managerial. If in the included observation the correspondent is rather a registrar of events, then by participating in the experiment he has the right to intervene in the situation, influencing its participants, managing them and making some decisions.

According to V.P. Talov, “The impact on the observed objects in the course of his / experiment / is not only permissible, but is just expected. Correspondents resorting to experimentation do not wait for people, certain officials, entire services to reveal themselves spontaneously, i.e. random, natural. This disclosure is deliberately caused, purposefully "organized" by them themselves... An experiment is an observation accompanied by the observer's intervention in the processes and phenomena being studied, under certain conditions - an artificial challenge, a conscious "provocation" of these latter" 1 .

Thus, the experiment is connected with the creation of an artificial impulse, designed to reveal certain aspects of the object under study. A journalist has the opportunity to conduct an experiment on himself, infiltrating the social group he needs, that is, to become something like a “dummy figure”. At the same time, he not only influences the situation, but also seeks to involve all persons of interest to him in the experiment.

Experiments can vary in their degree of complexity. Often a journalist will limit himself to the simplest task and accordingly apply an elementary form of experiment. However, when a journalist sets himself much more difficult task, then it is rather problematic to conduct an experimental verification of the initial assumption corresponding to it at the required level, therefore, when planning and conducting an experiment, it is necessary to take into account the following points:

Determine its goals and objectives even before the start of the experiment (study the situation well, collect preliminary information about likely participants, work through available documents and other sources, and outline the subject of study, which will be of particular interest in the object of study).

Determine the site of action (whether the experiment will be carried out in natural or laboratory conditions).

Prepare both yourself (the journalist) and other participants in the operation.

After the journalist has determined the conditions under which the action will take place, he should form working hypotheses and choose an indicator of impact on the experimental situation. And only after that it is decided by what methods to fix and control the research process. In the structure of the experimental situation, L. V. Kashinskaya distinguishes the following elements:

initial state of the object influencing factor final state of the object

“The initial state of an object is usually fixed by a journalist, that is, there is a certain starting information. But the same information also contains those motivating motives that necessitate the creation of an experimental situation:

The insufficiency of the information necessary for the journalist to test or clarify his hypothesis.

The inability to obtain such information by conventional methods.

The need to obtain psychologically reliable arguments” 1 .

I would also like to draw attention to the fact that conducting an experiment requires special qualifications and mastery of special tools, and this is often possible only with the participation of an experienced consultant.

When the description of the course of the conducted experiment becomes the main content of the publication, the experimental method can act as the dominant genre-forming feature. Therefore, referring the publication to the genre of experiment, it should be emphasized that it is about an artificial subject-practical situation specially organized by the journalist himself 2 .

IN Lately experiment is increasingly used in journalism, especially electronic. The method of recreating an artificial situation in which unsuspecting people find themselves can be found in various television programs (for example, "Town" and "Joke"). These experiments are carried out in order to identify any behavioral reactions of people to extraordinary situations. Publications in the genre of experiment are advantageous for a journalist in that they usually allow you to create texts that have dynamic features, a “lively” visual presentation of the material. They allow you to combine the beginnings of analytics and reporting. In other words, the author of the experiment not only analyzes some phenomenon, but also uses the detailed description of the created situation inherent in the reportage. But nevertheless, it is advisable to conduct an experiment in journalistic practice only in individual cases when the task is to penetrate deeper into life. At the same time, it is necessary to control all stages of preparation for it as carefully as possible.

Chapter 2. Analysis of Publications

So, in order to more clearly identify the differences between the method of observation and experiment, we will compare two publications: “How much does politeness cost? Or wrap me a kilogram of peaches in separate bags” (see Appendix 1), published on the website http://www.myjulia.ru and “Komi-Voyagers”, published under the heading “Trends” in No. 43 (073) of the magazine “Russian reporter” (see Appendix 2).

Speaking about the first publication, it is safe to say that it falls under the definition of an experiment. Firstly, the author deliberately intrudes into a social group, acts as a "dummy figure", namely, he appears in the image of an ordinary consumer. Secondly, the journalist himself determines the factor of influence on the object of research (sellers), deliberately provoking them, for example, offering to hang exactly 143 grams of kvass or one candy of each type. And the characters of trade workers are revealed in the most natural way: “Is that so? Can I chop it up smaller? or “Girl, what are you? Not! Nooooo!!! My job is going to be like this. I will not weigh. It's all on the calculator should be considered. No. Do not want".

The author clearly defined the purpose of his study - to show the attitude of sellers to an ordinary buyer and understand the reasons for such an attitude. His task is to penetrate deeply into a seemingly ordinary situation (a holiday shopping trip). Naturally, at the end of the study, the conclusion follows: “They were ready to cut, hang, wrap and do anything with the products I bought, which was in the power of the sellers. Only those in which laziness prevailed over other human qualities were refused. And I also realized that you should not be afraid to ask the seller to help you.

The genre of this publication can be defined as a journalistic experiment, because the subject-practical situation here was created artificially and specially organized by the journalist himself, who most likely could not use any other methods and needed reliable psychological arguments. Thus, the creation of an experimental situation is fully motivated.

Now consider the second publication called "Komi Voyagers". Here the author shows us one of the most acute problems of Russia and, especially, the Nenets autonomous region- The problem of transportation. The journalist did not have enough indirect information to fully cover this problem, so he goes on a journey with truckers-"stalkers" along "the worst road in Russia."

So we see the method of observation in action. He, in our opinion, acts here as the main method. The publication itself is written in the reporting genre (as mentioned earlier, observation is one of the key methods in the work of a reporter). The journalist pays a lot of attention to describing the characters of the people he encounters. He accurately notices the peculiarities of everyone’s speech, gives examples of “stalker jargon”: “nyasha”, “serpentine”, “washboard”, etc.

The speech of the author as a whole has a narrative and descriptive character. Details of the road, such as an overturned truck and its drunk driver, pulling out a truck stuck in the mud, as well as an abundance of dialogue make the reader involved in this trip, the dynamics of the event are very well traced.

The journalist gives us only a subjective vision of the situation, and not even his own, but the heroes of the story. Whether they can be trusted or not, the reader does not know.

By nature, the observation is open (truckers most likely know that there is a journalist among them), structured (the journalist records events according to a clearly defined plan), conducted in the field and included (the author does not observe the situation from the outside, but he, together with the truckers, commits A 70-kilometer off-road raid, that is, his task is to experience all the difficulties for himself, and also shows the reader situations typical of the environment in which he has infiltrated: mutual assistance of drivers, struggle for a place on the ferry).

Summing up the analysis of publications, one can immediately identify the main difference between observation and experiment from each other. In the first case, the journalist himself creates the situation in which he works, and his task is to confirm the hypothesis and the corresponding conclusion. In the case of observation, the situation is different - the author is included in a natural event that he cannot control in any way. The main task here is to highlight the event or problem, as well as to accurately and easily convey informative details to the reader.

Conclusion

So, after analyzing the scientific works of many authors and comparing in detail two recent publications in the media, we can say with confidence that the method of observation and experiment, despite their external similarity, have a number of rather significant differences, namely:

during the observation, the journalist deals with events that are often impossible to repeat, to lose again; in the experiment, the journalist himself creates the situation that he needs to investigate;

the purpose of the experiment is to test the hypothesis set by the journalist at the beginning of the study, and the purpose of the observation is to describe and accurately convey the details of the situation under study;

when observed, a journalist cannot interfere with research progress, being only a registrar of an event or phenomenon, and in the experiment, on the contrary, it uses toolkit, provoking the object of study on certain actions thus managing it and making decisions;

the result of the observation may be based on the subjective view of the journalist about the event and require additional verification, while the result of the experiment is actually objective and is a confirmation or refutation of the hypothesis proposed by the journalist;

works written using the method of observation are informative and descriptive, in contrast to works written using the experiment, which are representatives of analytical genres.

Summing up the study, it is still worth noting that both methods are important tools in the arsenal of a professional journalist, as well as the main ways of researching and understanding the reality around us. Their use in publications brings a sense of belonging, empathy to the situations described in them, and from some of them the reader can derive specific practical benefits. But we must not forget that they require special training and the presence of a fixed, if not strict, plan of action. It is also necessary to be careful when working in the field of human relations, because one of the fundamental principles of the work of a journalist is “do no harm”.

Bibliography

Kashinskaya L.V. Experiment as a method of journalistic activity // Vestn. Moscow university Ser. 10. Journalism, 1986. No. 6.

Kim M.N . Technology of creating a journalistic work. SPb., 2001.

Lazutina G.V. Technology and methods of journalistic creativity. M., 1988.

Melnik G.S., Kim M.N. methods of journalism. St. Petersburg: Publishing House of Mikhailov V.A., 2006.

Nikitin N. Work option - unspoken // Journalist. 1997. No. 2.

Smirnov V.A. Levels and stages of the process of cognition // Problems of the logic of scientific knowledge. M., 1964.

Talov V.P. The work of a journalist: Methods and techniques of journalistic communication. L., 1983.

Tertychny A.A. Genres of periodicals. Moscow: Aspect Press, 2000.

Yadov V.A. Sociological research: methodology, program, methods. Samara, 1995.

Applications

1 Melnik G.S., Kim M.N. methods of journalism. St. Petersburg: Publishing House of Mikhailov V.A., 2006.

Experiment is different from observations in the first...

Methods psychology (4)

Abstract >> Psychology

Has two methods obtaining facts subject to further analysis - methods observations And experiment, which, ... main purveyor of psychological knowledge and basis for many theories. IN difference from observations psychological experiment ...

Theoretical and methodological aspect method observations in sociological research

Course work>> Sociology

... experiments this method- one of the leaders. Like self sufficient method, observation... put together main Advantages and disadvantages method observation"(table... differ from natural, if observation open (effect observations) Difficulties of application observations ...

Main questions of philosophy and main directions of philosophy

Cheat sheet >> Philosophy

What is given in sensory experience. Experiment And observation are main method knowledge. 2. Any true knowledge is... laws for the world and its components. Main difference O.P. from N.P. - scientific knowledge assumes as its result ...

Main tasks of psychology and pedagogy

Study Guide >> Psychology

Constituting the structure of personality, is different from some of her others ... , sociometric methods and socio-psychological experiment. In pedagogy, there are main and support methods. TO main refer method observations And method experiment, to...

observation method. Stages of observation

Observation is carried out by the researcher by inclusion in the experimental situation or by indirect analysis of the situation and fixation of phenomena and facts of interest to the researcher.

Stages of observational research (according to Zarochentsev K.D.):

1) Definition of the subject of observation, object, situation.

2) Choice of observation and data recording method.

3) Create an observation plan.

4) Choice of method for processing results.

5) Actually observation.

6) Processing and interpretation of the received information.

Similarities and differences between observation and experiment

Observation according to Meshcheryakov B.G. - “an organized, purposeful, fixed perception of mental phenomena with the aim of studying them under certain conditions” .

Experiment according to Meshcheryakov B.G. - “experiment conducted in special conditions to obtain new scientific knowledge through the targeted intervention of the researcher in the life of the subject ".

Analyzing the specifics of the methods of observation and experiment, we will determine their similarities and differences.

Common features in observation and experiment:

Both methods require advance preparation, planning, and goal setting;

The results of research using observation and experiment require detailed processing;

Research results can be influenced personality traits researcher.

Differences in methods of observation and experiment:

The possibility of changing the situation and influencing it in the experiment and the inability to make changes in the observation;

The purpose of observation is to state the situation, the purpose of the experiment is to change the situation, to track the degree of influence of certain means on the situation;

The experimental method requires a clear knowledge of the object under study, and this knowledge is often acquired in observation.

Practical task

The topic of the survey was developed taking into account the characteristics of the target group with which we intended to work. As such, teenagers of the senior classes of the school were chosen. According to Vygotsky L.S. the leading activity at this age is intimate-personal communication. Through communication with peers and adults, a teenager builds his personal attitude to the world, forms his own unique image. In this regard, it is dangerous not to get into the environment of peers for a teenager. It is extremely important to have friends and associates at this age.

That is why the topic of the survey was chosen as follows: "Me and my friends."

The purpose of the survey: to determine the level of formation of friendly relations among modern adolescents of senior school age.

To achieve the goal, a questionnaire was developed:

Questionnaire "Me and my friends"

Instruction:

Hello.

You are invited to participate in a scientific study.

Please read each question carefully and answer it as honestly as possible by circling the answer that seems correct to you, or by entering the correct one in the special answer field. For multiple-choice questions, only one must be selected.

Personal data:

Last name, first name _____________________________ Class ___________________

1. Do you have a circle of friends?

a) yes; b) no.

2. What do you have in common?___________________________________________

3. Which friend would you trust with your secret?______________

4. Which of your friends would you turn to for help in a difficult situation? ____________________________________________________

5. What qualities do friends value in you? ____________________________

6. Recall the times when you helped one of your friends cope with a problem ________________________________

7. How do you feel with your friends?

a) good, fun;

b) bored, sad;

c) one or the other.

8. What kind of friends would you like to have?________________________

9. What qualities of character are most valued among your circle of friends? ____________________________________________

10. What would you call the group where you spend your free time?

a) my friends

b) my company;

c) a party

d) my yard;

e) my team;

f) own version __________________________________________________________

11. Do you have adults with whom you communicate? Who is it?_______________________________________________________

12. Do you have conflicts? If so, how are they usually resolved?

b) a fight;

c) due to the intervention of the leader;

d) due to the intervention of an adult;

e) a compromise of a part of the guys.

13. How do adults feel about your group?

a) kindly

b) hostile;

c) neutral.

14. Please mark which statements you agree with:

a) I am often consulted;

b) can't accept important decision without my friends;

c) no one really understands me;

d) it is easier for me to make a decision myself and tell others about it;

e) it is easier for me to make a decision together with everyone.

15 How would you portray your mood when you are with your friends?

The questionnaire contains a fairly informative instruction that helps to understand the essence of the task. In total, the questionnaire contains 15 questions, both open and closed. Questions different types mixed, which helps the interviewee to focus on each of the questions. The most difficult questions that require the most honest answers are located in the middle of the questionnaire.

The survey involved 12 people - students of grades 9-10 secondary school. The gender and age composition of the target group is shown in the diagrams below.

Diagram 1-2. Gender and age composition of respondents

Let us proceed to the analysis of the obtained data and their interpretation.

Absolutely all teenagers answered positively to the first question, saying that they have friends. Among the factors that unite the respondents with their friends were named: common interests, study, joint pastime, common acquaintances, parents-friends.

Diagram 3. Factors that bring friends together

The column for the answer to the third question often indicated the names of friends, or the number of friends. The number of friends to whom the respondents could entrust personal secrets did not exceed 1-2.

The answers to the fourth question were similar. The circle of help among the respondents was made up of the same people as the circle of trust.

Among the qualities valued by the friends of the respondents in the respondents themselves were: humor, the ability to understand, the ability to trust, the ability to help, sociability.

Diagram 4. Qualities valued by friends

For question 6, the answers were often "difficult to answer" or "can't remember". It is also not uncommon for the question to be skipped by the respondents. Only 15% of the total number of respondents answered this question. Among the answers, they indicated cases from their personal lives that practically did not intersect with each other.

80% of the respondents answered that they feel fun in the company of their friends. 20% of respondents have mixed feelings.

Among the qualities of ideal friends, respondents named honesty, sense of humor, responsibility, devotion, respect.

Most of these qualities were also named among those that are considered basic among the respondent's friends.

Answers to question 10 were distributed as follows:

Diagram 5. Name of circle of friends by respondents

Among the adults with whom adolescents communicate, the following stood out: parents, teachers, coaches. Often, adults have a neutral (55%) or negative (30%) attitude towards age groups.

Conflict situations do not arise often and are resolved by finding a compromise by the guys.

The answers to the penultimate question were divided as follows:

a) I am often consulted - 25%;

b) I can't make an important decision without my friends - 20%;

c) nobody really understands me - 15%;

d) it is easier for me to make a decision myself and tell others about it - 20%;

e) it is easier for me to make a decision together with everyone - 20%.

Positively characterize their mood in the circle of friends - 85%, negatively - 15%.

Interpretation of the data obtained during the survey leads to the following conclusions:

1. Among schoolchildren - adolescents a great desire for the formation of peer groups;

2. All teenagers think they have a large circle of friends. Meanwhile, they can only tell a secret or seek help from a small number of people.

3. Most adolescent groups are formed on the basis of the commonality of leisure, learning activities and interests.

4. Teenage groups often change their composition and are unstable.

5. Adolescent groups influence the opinions of adolescents included in it, but often they are not a resource for making serious decisions regarding the personality of a teenager.

6. Adolescents have rather vague ideas about friendship. They call a lot of people friends.

7. Adults are practically remote from the processes of formation of adolescent groups and their management.

8. Modern teenagers reliability, honesty, mutual assistance, trust and the ability to help are valued.

What is observation? These are facts obtained by a person as a result of noticing some phenomena, actions and other manifestations in life. The very concept of observation refers to psychology and acts here as a method of cognition, while it can be divided into two types:

1. Scientific observation.

Despite the fact that the end result of both types is generally the same - this is the acquisition of any knowledge, their nature and course differ significantly.

scientific observation

As mentioned above, observation is form of mental research, however, this is true only if it is aimed at cognition of something with a mandatory transition to revealing the essence of this phenomenon. Speaking more plain language, observation, as a psychic method should not simply state this or that fact, but find an explanation for it, why it happened this way and not otherwise, and what follows from this.

Scientific observation is obliged to fix the acquired knowledge in any accessible form Moreover, it is permanent and has a certain structure. The object of study is subjected to systematic observation according to a specific plan. This allows not only to draw some conclusions, but to give them an explanation, as well as to identify certain patterns, for example, the permanent nature of the phenomenon or its temporary manifestations.

Unlike scientific it has no clear purpose, there is no need to get to the bottom of the truth, and all the knowledge gained is taken for granted. Everyday observation is chaotic and in fact it is constant. One way or another, a person constantly captures any events, and they turn into certain data. Everyday observation does not have a system, it is not subject to planning, but, despite its random nature, it is of great importance in a person’s life, as well as in the interpretation of events taking place around.

An interesting fact is that in the absence of everyday observation of the goal to get to the bottom of things and get an explanation for this or that phenomenon, it happens by itself. As a rule, certain events are accidentally recorded by a person, and then an understanding of a particular process is formed. For example, thunder rumbles, a person fixes the sound, lightning appears among the clouds - another element, it starts to rain - the third fact. All of them add up to a logical chain - after lightning, thunder is heard and this is a harbinger of rain. That is, there was no special analysis and observation in this case, but random facts formed a certain sequence and gave an understanding of the process. The next in this chain may be the appearance of the sun and a rainbow, which will continue the logical chain.

All people perceive what is happening around them differently. Many people do not have the gift of worldly observation at all, as a rule, they do not ask too much how this or that process occurs and why it is this way and not otherwise. In general, the presence of questions, how and why, to some extent, gives rise to a propensity for worldly observation in a person. From it worldly wisdom can be formed.

Regarding this, there is an interesting saying: “Wise is not the one who knows a lot, but the one who knows the right things.” It perfectly characterizes the significance of worldly observation and its importance over scientific observation. Very often, in everyday matters, people without education are much smarter and more rational in their reasoning than people with advanced degrees. This just says that everyday knowledge obtained through everyday observation is more important than scientific knowledge.

In general, everyday observation is directed at surrounding things, and scientific observation is directed at their essence, which is very often not very important in ordinary life. This knowledge is of course necessary for science and can lead to grandiose discoveries, but in life ordinary people they are rarely used. For example, the information that all substances are composed of atoms or molecules is not very useful for ordinary people, but is of great importance in the study of various processes, for example, nuclear reactions associated with the splitting of the nucleus, which in turn help to obtain the necessary for modern man electricity.

Life and scientific observation. Communication and importance

There is no direct connection between these two phenomena, but they are somewhat similar. Life observation is characterized by:

• Random nature of knowledge acquisition.
• Getting conclusions based on relationships.
• Combining some data into worldly wisdom that has no scientific justification but has been alive for decades.

Scientific observation:

• The clear nature of its course.
• The need to understand the essence of what is happening.
• Obtaining chains of relationships that may require follow-up observations.

If you try to understand the essence of both types of observation, then everyday observation says that this particular event occurs because it always happens, and it was noticed, and scientific observation will explain why it happens that way.

Everyday observation turns the information received into sayings, signs and proverbs, and sometimes the conclusions obtained can carry erroneous information, although this rarely happens. Scientific observation turns its data into laws with evidence; there is no place in them for explanations like “because this is repeated from year to year or day after day” and random explanations. Everything here is logical and correct.