Methodological Foundations of Psychological Knowledge

Abstract

The results of the analysis of the sources of psychology are presented, which showed that there were and there are many areas and schools in psychology that used various methodological foundations and principles for constructing psychological knowledge. It is noted that despite significant disagreements between these areas, schools, concepts, there is a certain similarity between them – their creators strive to one degree or another for a scientific, objective knowledge of mental reality. The purpose of the article is the formation of a system of knowledge about the theoretical and methodological foundations of psychology – the most important initial theoretical positions, positions and their essence, which underlie the construction of psychological research and interpretation of its results. The scientific novelty is the systematization of knowledge and analysis of the laws of development of psychological science and its general theory, the general principles of a personal, activity and system approach in psychology and their basic categories, principles and problems. It is proved that in its methods, psychology is significantly different from other sciences, therefore, in the creation of its methodological tools, psychological science relies on certain methodological principles, which necessarily determine the requirements for the construction and use of psychology methods, namely: objectivity, genetic approach, systematicity, personality approach, individualization, unity of theory and practice. The article discloses the initial principles of the general psychological theory of activity, namely: the principle of objectivity, the principle of the systematic organization of units of activity, the principle of determination of mental reflection of the place of the reflected object in the structure of activity, the principle of the adaptive nature of human activity. It is noted that in the general array of psychological studies that are carried out in line with the systemic approach, two ultimate branches of the systemic approach are embodied: specifically syncretic and abstract-analytical. A detailed description of methods that are classified by degree of generality into general, general scientific and private is carried out. It is noted that for science, the main purpose of methodological knowledge is that it performs the function of reflection, that is, the function of an intellectual means that allows a scientist or practitioner to enter the position of reflection and become aware of their cognitive means and the adequacy of their application. The process of psychological research consists of a number of stages: preparation, collection, processing and interpretation of evidence, formulation of conclusions. According to the stages of psychological research, it is advisable to distinguish the following four groups of methods: organizational, empirical, data processing methods, interpretation methods.

Keywords: methodology; scientific approach; methodological principle; method of psychology; psychological methodology; stages of psychological research.