When starting any scientific activity, the first thing that needs to be done is to determine the subject and object of research. These concepts are closely related to each other, since they directly unite the activity and the conditions that are created for it or accompany it. Typically, the object of study is small or large social units, and precisely the relationships between participants in the study process. Thus, the object of research represents the unity of the objective and the subjective.

The importance of defining the object of study

No scientific work has the right to claim the title of thorough and complete if it was not started by deciding to identify the object and subject of research. This point in the research process should be given special importance. After all, isolating from all available tasks the only correct, necessary and relevant one for work is the first step towards carrying out responsible, well-founded scientific work.

Characteristics and structure

All objects undergoing the research process have certain characteristics, such as: location, demographic and social composition, numbers, divisions, depending on various factors (skin color, nationality, gender).

Each object of study is a different unit from similar ones, which has a certain individual nature of interaction with other social groups and individual objects, the environment and its individual factors. An important feature is the territorial characteristics, which are determined in advance before the start of the scientific process.

It is equally important before starting scientific work to determine the duration, period of scientific work, the purpose of the research, the object of research and the subject.

Inadmissibility of mixing the object and subject of research

The object of study is the factor whose isolation is of great importance. First of all, it is necessary to be able to correctly distinguish an object from it, because it is just an integral part of the first. It is necessary to take a responsible attitude towards determining the objective sphere that arouses the interest of the researcher, as well as identifying the area regarding which the scientist plans to obtain new information. Confusion in understanding what the object and subject of research are can lead to unreliable global conclusions and the substitution of research results with assumptions about truths that have been established for a long time and cannot be challenged.

It would be incorrect to define the object of scientific research as a broad research area, and the subject as a narrow one. Researchers also often make the big mistake of considering those who take part in the process as the object. This is wrong. It is necessary to understand what exactly is being studied and how the functions and aspects of what is being studied are revealed.

Typical errors in determining the object of research. Examples from the field of educational research

The object of social scientific research in the field of pedagogy most often is educational educational activities, relationships between participants in the process (team and individual, self-education and training, self-education and upbringing), management or organization of educational and cognitive activities of adolescents, an institution or the processes occurring in it.

The subject of research, in contrast to the object, can determine the goals of upbringing and education, forecasting, forms, content and methods of conducting and organizing the pedagogical process as a whole. It also includes the characteristics of the activities of students and their teachers, ways to improve the processes of teaching and upbringing, the nature and properties of the requirements and influences of teachers in relation to their students.

The study of the object of research during pedagogical research occurs by analyzing various types of conflicts and situations, relationships between students and their interaction in the team (team and individual, student and his parents, student and teacher, family and school, school and its leadership, community and students ). The important elements of the subject of research are considered to be the process of self-learning (of the child and the teacher), self-knowledge, self-education, receptivity to advice and outside influence, education of life experience and its influence on actions and behavior.

When starting the research process, it is advisable to select one specific aspect for study; it will be the main subject of the study. The remaining objects and methods will be only auxiliary.

The subject of research as a natural integral part of the object

The subject of the study is the various aspects (relations and properties) of the object that connect it with the actual problem or specific situation being studied. It is on them that the main task of a scientist conducting a particular sociological study is usually focused. Usually, the essence of the concept of the subject of research includes only the elements, relationships and connections of the object that are subject to research in this specific scientific work. To define the subject of research means to establish the boundaries of the search, to assume the most significant connections and problems in the area of ​​the task at hand, to allow a time frame for the possible isolation of each and the collection of all elements of the study into a single whole, into a system. It is in the subject of research that all the areas and directions chosen for study, the most important goals and objectives, as well as the possibilities of their proposed solution, which would involve appropriate means and methods, are usually expressed.

Research methods

In science, the object of research is the main field of activity of the research process. But in each individual scientific direction, it is possible to identify a number of objects for research, each of which represents an independent separate area, and together they are a logically connected being and the goal of the research scientific process in a specific scientific direction.

Usually, when choosing such objects and research methods, they decide to study something unknown, previously unstudied, or part of some aspect that has not been previously studied by science. Before the fact of isolation, all previously unknown phenomena in a certain area of ​​cognition are identified. This method is used as a scientific method, provided that the separation of the individual from the general is possible a priori.

The importance of logical conclusions

The division described above, made according to the selected areas of several sciences at once or one specific scientific discipline, is made using logical reasoning and is applied to the scope of the laws on the basis of which a certain scientific discipline or a number of scientific disciplines exists and functions. This is found out experimentally and greatly facilitates the learning process, helping to cope with difficulties that arise during the study.

Observation method and hypothesis formation

The process of observation is of paramount importance in isolating the object of study, provided that it is possible. The next most important way to study an object is most often called experiment. The creation of special rules, scientific logic and the presence of already known data help to make a connection between observed, previously known and newly discovered data. Based on the conclusions made after this, scientists make assumptions or hypotheses, which, in turn, essentially represent a predictive research method.

Often in the process of scientific research, in addition to the methods listed above, deductive methods are also used. It is retrospective and is most popular in the exact sciences, such as mathematics and criminology.

World scientific activity has come a long way since its birth, but the scientific method is still considered the surest way to build a correct scientific theory.

From a philosophical point of view, the object of study is...

Philosophy allows you to analyze the object and subject of research, from the point of view of the general and the individual. As you know, any process, thing or phenomenon has a number of properties, characteristics and features that are unique to them. Let's look at trees as an example. Birch, poplar, oak and pine have their own individual special qualities. This is what is particular or singular. Just as each particular is a representative of something general, so the elements listed above have such common characteristics that they can be called nothing more than “trees.”

It turns out that everything that exists in the universe, except for individual characteristics, has characteristics characteristic of other processes, objects or phenomena. And this helps to highlight certain groups and the general qualities of their components.

Functional aspect of the study

Consideration of the features of the implementation of objects during cognitive activity will help to supplement what has been learned during the research process. In this case, the subject and the object contribute to solving different problems. The object is engaged in recording the very fact of the presence of a process or phenomenon that is subject to study. It denotes the laws of development, properties and interrelations of the functioning of what is being studied. The subject clarifies the framework that limits the area of ​​cognition of the object. It is aimed at reflecting significant aspects viewed from various points of view. A multifaceted, detailed reflection of all objective aspects of knowledge contributes to the formation of the depth of the content of scientific research. The subject captures all the laws, properties and connections present in scientific knowledge and previously formed as logical formations.

Examples of object and subject of research in sociology

The program of each sociological study, as a mandatory component, contains objects of social research. Usually they represent a certain structure consisting of a number of ordered interconnected elements. For example, society is the object of study of many sciences: history, philosophy, political science and psychology, that is, it is studied from various angles and specified using the subject of research, where the subject is connections, properties, relationships that are social in nature. So, provided that the purpose of the study is to identify the reasons for the low performance of schoolchildren, the definition of the object of research will be as follows: this is a social group, a part of society, consisting of school-age children.

And the subject of scientific activity in this case will be the causes, relationships and nature of the relationships of schoolchildren with each other and the world around them.

Establishing the possibility of defending a dissertation work in any dissertation council, an analysis is carried out to determine whether the passport of the scientific specialty of the work corresponds to its content.

The first thing that attention is paid to is the object and subject of this or that dissertation work.

As part of the planned scientific research for his dissertation, an applicant for a scientific degree must decide on the object of research and, based on it, formulate the subject of the research.

What is the subject and object of research?

Any scientific work in any science (in this case, a dissertation) is aimed at accurately identifying and eliminating existing problems or unresolved problems.

Identifies and describes exactly the part where there is a problem that can be solved using various tools: existing or fundamentally new (know-how, fundamental developments, etc.)

Object of study can be presented in the form of a two-component scheme: this is the phenomenon (process) that creates the problem situation studied by the author and exists independently of the researcher, and the “problem” is the “source of its appearance.”

The last two exist stationary and do not depend on the researcher. The developed and approved passports of the Higher Attestation Commission for all scientific specialties contain descriptions of typical research objects for each scientific specialty. All passports are reviewed after a certain time to correct and update research objects in which science is interested.

Opinions and reviews

When the topic of the work is formulated, the subject and object are easy to determine. To put it completely simply, the subject is more general, the object is more specific. For example, if the topic of the dissertation is “The Evolution of Female Images in the Works of A. Greene,” the subject of the research will be Greene’s work, and the object will be female images. The only problem is that as the research progresses, the topic often changes, new aspects of the phenomenon being studied are revealed, so one must not forget to adjust the subject and object.

What's important to remember?

It is impossible to cover in a study the entire object that creates the problem field, therefore the dissertation describes only the relationship between the elements of the object - the subject of research and its components.

Difference between the term "Object of study" And "Subject of study" is that the second is an integral part of the first.

Advice! Moreover, any research object contains three or more research subjects. Based on the characteristics of each specific work, the author, as a rule, focuses on the most basic ones.

That is, each subject of research has its own level of importance (significance) for its practical study and application to achieve the desired results.

It is important to remember that the precise formulation of the object and subject of research is the minimum required for the most productive work on the chosen topic. This will allow you to concentrate your efforts on priority tasks and not waste them on secondary ones.

Examples of presentation of the object and subject of research in dissertations

Object and subject of research of the dissertation in specialty 13.00.01 “General pedagogy, history of pedagogy and education”:

Before starting the study, it is necessary to determine object and subject research. An object- certain phenomenon, which becomes a field of research activity. Item- more detailed characteristics of the object, considering certain aspects of it under given conditions

Object of study

Most often, when writing a research paper, problems arise with the formulation of the subject; the object of research is much easier to determine. An object is an area, phenomenon, sphere of knowledge, process within which the research will be carried out. In other words, it is a part of reality that the researcher will study. The object can have not only scientific work, but also any other activity or scientific direction. For example, in sociology the object is society, in psychology - the human psyche, in medicine - a person.
The object of research should be closely related to the topic of the research work, its characteristics and definitions should be considered and studied during the research. An object, as can be understood from this name, always exists objectively, regardless of the researcher and point of view.

Subject of study

Subject of study- a more detailed and narrow concept that is mandatory must be part of the object and cannot go beyond it. Subject - a specific problem in a chosen field of activity, considered from a certain angle under certain conditions. Research work cannot study the entire object of research at once; it examines it from some angles, reveals its characteristics and properties. Depending on these features, the subject of research is determined.

For example, a house as an object of study can be viewed from different angles: an architect can study its structure and architectural style, a builder will identify the suitability of the soil for the chosen type of foundation and engineering characteristics, an economist will look at estimates, and a person living in this house will be interested in the layout and quality housing. Depending on the point of view of the object, the subject of research is distinguished.

The subject of research does not always exist objectively; it can represent relationships, interconnections, conditions, cause-and-effect relationships. It can only be in the researcher’s head and depends on his knowledge of the object. For example, if the effect of music on plant growth is studied, then object in this case there will be plants, A subject- dependence of their growth from certain music.

In psychology, the subject is the patterns of the psyche in various conditions and its influence on human behavior and life activity. In medicine, the subject is the human biological system, its physiology, considered with the participation of the categories of health and disease.

Examples of object and subject of research

A competent approach to identifying key aspects of scientific work largely determines its success. When starting to write a scientific work, a researcher often finds it difficult to correctly determine the object of study.

Despite the fact that definitions of concepts can be easily found in a dictionary, authors of scientific papers often encounter difficulties with independently identifying the object of research.

The concept of an object is broader, so defining it in your research is usually easier than defining an object. An object has many properties and sides to explore.

The object of the study is- a phenomenon or object that exists in the material world independently of human consciousness, and towards which his knowledge or activity is directed. Simply put, an object is that part of all scientific knowledge with which the researcher works.

In scientific work, the object is closely related to the topic of research, but does not repeat it.

Subject of study

A clear distinction between the concepts of “object” and “subject” in scientific work, their correct formulation are criteria for the competence of the researcher and the literacy of his scientific work.

Subject of study- this is a separate property of an object, a question or problem located within its framework. Any scientific work cannot cover the entire object of study. Therefore, it is necessary to highlight the specific side to which the researcher’s activities will be directed.

When identifying a subject of study, you should answer the question: “What exactly is being studied?” The subject can be processes, phenomena, relationships, problems, patterns, dependencies, etc. In other words, the object is clarified or specified.

Examples of defining the object and subject of research

For a more complete understanding of the categories under consideration, it is worth considering examples of defining the object and subject of research.

In order to correctly determine the object and subject of research, it is necessary to identify the area within which the research takes place. Next, we should consider the aspect of this area that the researcher plans to study based on the purpose of the work. This will be the subject of study.

Example 1. The discipline "Microeconomics" is the object of study of the economic activities of people. The subject of study may be the economic behavior of people, their economic relationships, etc.

Example 2. Discipline "Microbiology". The object of study of microbiology is various microorganisms. The subject of study may be the growth, development and reproduction of these microorganisms, their distribution, etc.

Example 3. Discipline "Microsociology". The object of study of microsociology is the family, and the subject is family behavior. The object of study of computer science is information systems, and the subject can be such aspects as software, hardware, etc.

The difference between an object and a subject of study

For example, let's look at several options for defining the object and subject of research in various sciences.

The subject of the research is closely related to the topic of scientific work and, often, repeats it exactly. The object is not so related to the topic of research, since it is a fairly broad area that can be studied from various angles.

Something to remember, that as a more multifaceted phenomenon, the object is primary. An object as a part of a system, as a particular aspect of a general phenomenon, is secondary. The formulation of the subject occurs in more detail and in greater detail, whereas when describing an object, you can get by with two or three words.

Object and subject of research - what is the difference? updated: February 15, 2019 by: Scientific Articles.Ru

General concept of the object and subject of research and the difference between them

Particularly important components of research work can be considered the object and subject of research. Today you can find a large number of different aspects to describe these concepts.

For example, V. Dal in his Explanatory Dictionary explains the concept of object and subject as follows:

A somewhat different definition of these scientific concepts is offered by S. I. Ozhegov:

An object. 1. That which exists outside of us and independently of our consciousness, the external world, material reality. 2. A phenomenon, an object towards which some activity is directed. Object of study."

Item. 1. Any material phenomenon, thing. 2. What the thought is directed towards, what constitutes its content or what some action is directed towards.”

To summarize, we can draw up a working description of the concepts “object” and “subject of research”.

Definition 1

An object is a process or action that causes problematic conditions and is taken by the researcher for analysis. An object is that part of scientific knowledge that the researcher studies.

Objects of study can be:

• material;
• intangible.

Their independence is expressed not in the fact that they appear as necessarily material or energetic formations (they can also be an image of mental life, spiritual culture), but in the fact that they are absolutely independent of whether people know about them. It is necessary to separate existing (or real) and acceptable objects of research.

Real objects of research can be called all things, objects, properties and relationships that are included in human activity, in the culture of a particular people.

Potential objects of research, on the contrary, events that have not yet been included in culture, knowledge about which is uncertain and inaccurate, show not the nature of the existing reality as such, but such outlines of its probable existence, the probability of which is assumed by already accumulated knowledge and culture. As a result, a world of virtual objects appears along with real objects. He owns all those objects that ultimately make up the spiritual culture of man.

The subject of research is that part of the question, by analyzing which we recognize the integrity of the object, separating its main, most significant features.

This is very clearly revealed when studying the existing sciences in a particular area of ​​systematization. It can be noted that some scientific disciplines (as well as individual academic subjects of secondary and higher education) are engaged in the study of individual “slices” of analyzed objects.

The subject of the research should always correspond to the definition of the topic or be as close as possible to it.

The object and subject of research as scientific categories can be compared as something general and specific.

It is advisable to note that the object and subject of research, as well as its goals and objectives, depend on the topic, but also on the researcher’s plan.

Difference between object and subject of study

The study of the subject and object of research, as well as the difference between them, is an epistemological problem. This problem always appears where, for some reason, the methodological request for the use of strictly reliable concepts stops working, and always where the object of science to which this work is related has not yet been separated and proven.

The difference between the object and the subject of research appeared in connection with studies in such a field as epistemology. By comprehending the objective world, certain aspects of it, a person develops objective knowledge about the surrounding reality. Each subsequent researcher, before starting to analyze some practical objects, must work through the body of knowledge already existing in society that depicts this object. In this case, knowledge sharing is the subject of research.

By determining the correspondence and inconsistency between individual objects of the existing world, a person practically separates various objects, designates them as objects, as probable objects for his work, for analysis. In this case, objects are also an objective reality, since their presence is not related to human activity.

Depending on the person is only the action itself, the separation of the object. But, having designated an object, a person makes it a subject of research. This is a characteristic feature of a person to change an object into the subject of his work. Isolated from objective reality, individual objects are transformed into objects of human activity, and each of these objects, under suitable circumstances, can become the subject of a specific science.

The main one is the object of research (a broader concept), the secondary one is the subject of research, in which the distinct quality of the object of research is highlighted. There are researchers who do not distinguish between these concepts and equate the subject and object of research.

Having decided on the subject and object of research, the scientist should give them a general assessment and constantly refer to them throughout the entire scientific work, developing goals, objectives, methods, and most importantly, final conclusions based on the results of the research work.