When students of psychology study the methods of psychology in order to answer them on the exam, they study the methods of not all, but only theoretical (academic) psychology. Methods of practical psychology are not yet asked from psychology students. About them — at the end of the article, and in the main article, when «methods of psychology» is written, one should read «methods of academic psychology.» So,
The methods of (academic) psychology are those techniques and means by which psychological researchers obtain reliable information that is used further to build scientific theories and develop practical recommendations. A good method does not replace a talented researcher, but is an important help to him.
The methods of psychology are aimed at studying mental phenomena in development and change.
The development and change of the psyche in the history of the animal world, in the history of mankind, with age characteristics, under the influence of exercise, training and education, as a result of adverse environmental influences, as a result of diseases are studied.
Methods of psychological research study not only the special person himself, but also the conditions affecting him.
It is impossible, for example, to understand the properties of a child’s personality without taking into account the situation around him in the family and at school.
Methods of psychology are very different. Classifying them, first of all, the methods of the actual scientific research and the methods directly applied in practice are distinguished. Methods can be more general and more specific, more or less scientific. In a psychology that claims to be scientific, there must be appropriate scientific methods.
The main methods of psychology, like most other sciences, are observation and experiment. Additional — self-observation, conversation, questioning and biographical method. Recently, psychological testing has become increasingly popular.
In the study of mental phenomena, various methods are usually used that complement each other.
For example, the manifestation of an employee’s confusion when performing a certain task, repeatedly noted by observation, has to be clarified by conversation, and sometimes verified by a natural experiment, using target tests.
If sensation and thought cannot be seen, then they are observed indirectly, not only through self-observation, but also through practical deeds and actions.
Methods of psychology must be used systematically, in a complex — and always purposefully, for each task specifically.
First of all, the task that has arisen, the question to be studied, the goal to be achieved are clarified, and then, in accordance with this, a specific and accessible method is selected.
Methods of practical psychology
The methods of practical psychology include the methods of those branches and sections that form it: pedagogy, counseling, psychotherapy.
These are reinforcement methods, suggestion, the method of using a sample, and others used in pedagogy and teaching practical psychology.
The methods of counseling and psychotherapeutic work are quite complex, specific and deserve separate consideration.