Abstraction and its role in scientific research [Essay No. 12416]

What is abstraction?

Abstraction from Latin is translated as distraction . But this concept does not mean a change in activity, but a change in thinking - a look at familiar or unfamiliar things from a different angle or from a different perspective. The word abstract means that it is necessary to step away from your activity in order to impartially understand it, analyze its processes and identify principles.

Abstraction means, on vacation by the ocean, forget about work, everyday life and focus on relaxation

The human brain is accustomed to looking at things and situations, combining all the ideas it has about this object, without dividing it into its component parts. What is abstraction? According to the definition of psychology, abstraction is the separation or even distancing of one component from another.

Studying reality

Day after day, human consciousness searches for new components, objects and concepts that have not been explored before, in which abstraction indirectly helps. The method of cognition in this case is a set of methods by which new knowledge is discovered, methods of solution and research, as well as systematization and correction of data. This should include conclusions, principles of reasoning, and forecast. Thus, observing an object, a person puts forward hypotheses and theories that serve as a form of assumption. These can later be supported by scientific evidence, experiments, or by collecting additional facts.

Cognition, as a method of abstraction, has distinctive features from the comparison method. It is expressed in qualitative and quantitative forms of abstraction, when essential (indisputable) features are highlighted. To make a decision, a person often relies on a comparison method that allows him to evaluate possible (desired) indicators with real indicators. All the pros and cons are put on the scales, which subsequently influence the final choice.

Why do you need the ability to abstract?

Before mastering abstraction techniques, it is important to understand that there are situations when you need to get rid of thoughts about trifles, discard the unnecessary and unnecessary and understand the essence of the problem. And to do this, you need to separate one property from all the others. What does it mean to abstract? This means being able to mentally distract yourself from certain things.

The ability to abstract helps to highlight only what is important, necessary at this moment, throwing aside the accompanying husk

The ability to abstract is an effective definition of desires and goals, as well as ways to achieve them. The technique helps, when you are extremely busy, to be able to move away from distracting and irritating factors in order to solve a momentary problem. Or, by abstracting oneself, one can study the necessary material without analyzing it and comparing it with previously studied material, which speeds up the learning process itself. Effective and quick completion of a given goal and task is the ability to concentrate and abstract in the shortest possible time.

How the abstract turns into the concrete

Without abstraction, it is difficult to imagine scientific knowledge, methods and calculations. Even at the elementary level - in arithmetic we add not two pears and three more pears, but simply two plus three (in the real world there is no “three”). Further, the level of abstraction increases (mathematics is generally the most abstract science): exponentiation, integral, derivative, and even the square root of minus one! Also, abstract concepts underlie geometry: a point, a straight line, a plane - they do not exist in real life.

Another area of cognition where abstraction flourishes is philosophy.

The rules of logic allow you to make conclusions using abstract concepts, ideas, and create theories from them.

Theoretical physics is another “realm of abstractions”. In addition to the already mentioned “spherical horse in a vacuum,” there are completely serious abstract concepts, for example, “absolute black body” and “ideal gas.” The most important thing is that, operating with abstract categories, physicists make calculations of completely real processes. It is difficult to give a more convincing example of this than the story of how the abstract E=mc2 turned into an atomic bomb.

Abstraction Methods

Let's create a template . Any property, characteristic of an object, upon careful consideration, can be used as a kind of template, sample. This helps with global decisions and thinking. This sample will become a kind of starting point, based on which other properties are considered from a different angle.
We identify . When considering a phenomenon, situation or thing, you take into account only the connecting characteristics and properties, while the distinctive features of a given object are not taken into account.
Let's make it more specific . To clearly define the boundaries of an object and separate it from everything else that is similar to it or has generalizing features, focus on a single specific concept, without taking into account other properties and characteristics.
Grouping and summarizing . In this case, all attention is concentrated directly on the properties that are characteristic of a certain concept. With such systematization, certain groups are created that are independent and differ from each other and from others. But, even having their key points, these groups still have similar characteristics and concepts of other similar groups.

Abstraction is similar to meditation: you need to discard everything unnecessary and concentrate on one thing

Types of Abstractions

Abstractions are transformed ideas about an object or phenomenon of the objective world.

Isolating abstraction. Corresponds to the isolation and fixation of certain features of an object or phenomenon.
Converting abstraction. Corresponds to the general characteristics of an object or phenomenon (taking into account all the features together).
Idealization. Corresponds to the replacement of a real goal with a certain idealized image. It is used for the most effective use of all available tools to achieve the designated result.

Learning to abstract ourselves

Often asking questions about how to learn to abstract from negativity and problems in society, how to abstract from unpleasant people, people look for complicated ways to solve the problem. Synonyms for “abstract” are the words “distracted”, “move away”. Of course, no one says that learning to move away is easy; this process is long and requires effort . But if you want and set the right goal, you can learn.

Finding yourself in a difficult situation, a person becomes lost, his thoughts are confused, and it is difficult to concentrate. And you’ve probably noticed more than once that after a while it dawns on you what was the best thing to do or say at that moment. The point is that after a while, you look at the situation from the outside . And in order to be able to abstract yourself in time in a difficult situation, consider it from such an angle as if what is happening is happening not to you, but to another person, or imagine that you are watching a movie. Thoughts will fall into place, and the decision will come on its own.
Disconnect from external stimuli . In reality it's not that difficult. Imagine the phenomena that interfere with you not as an action that can be stopped, but as background noise that will not go away, and then the brain itself will stop responding to them.
Always and in all situations, highlight only the important points and aspects . To begin with, mark something for yourself in a notebook; over time, you will learn to systematize and classify the flow, and highlight the main thing mentally, without notes.
You can use tables and diagrams that will help organize data and teach you to highlight the main thing.

To make it easier to concentrate on one thing, mentally pronounce an important aspect or action.
Learn to set clear and understandable goals . It doesn't have to be something florid or around the bush. Don’t think about ways to achieve a goal; rather, consider a clearly defined final result, based on which it will be easier to move towards what you want.
Don't do many tasks and things at the same time. Solve problems as they arise , separate the important from the mediocre. Perform any action consistently.
The ability to abstract lies in both discipline and a clear routine.

Knowing how to abstract yourself from a situation will help you solve complex cases in a short time, seeing the essence of the issue itself.

Below we invite you to watch an interesting video on the topic: this is the Russian version of the video “Abstract-ness” by the Khan Academy (a non-profit educational organization created in 2008 by MIT and Harvard graduate Salman Khan)

Forms of abstract thinking

With abstract thinking, a person operates with different knowledge and mental experiences. Over time, all this came to a certain system. Many phenomena of the world are not subject to sight, hearing or touch (and about some we can say that they do not exist at all as such). But such phenomena are part of human life, and therefore must have at least some form.

There are three main forms of abstract thinking: concept, judgment and inference. Let's talk about them briefly.

Concept

A concept is a thought that conveys a common property of various phenomena. Properties may vary, but be homogeneous and similar, which allows them to be combined into one group. Let's take a car for example. It can be an SUV, sedan or hatchback; Different cars have different shapes, colors, characteristics. But their common feature is that they all have wheels, an engine, a gearbox, etc., and that they can be driven. These characteristics (design, purpose) allow properties to be classified into one group.

And we are taught such things from the cradle. Mom talks about “cat”, and we immediately understand that this is a meowing and purring four-legged animal with a tail, etc. Cats come in different breeds and colors, but they all have common characteristics by which they belong to the general concept of “cat” or “cat”.

Judgment

A person uses judgment with the intention of confirming or disproving something. It can be simple or complex. Here is a simple thing - “the cat meows” - it can be expressed specifically and unambiguously. But the complex one - “the cat began to meow because he was hungry” - can be expressed in several declarative sentences.

Also, propositions can be true or false. True ones reflect the actual state of affairs and are based, as a rule, on the absence of an individual assessment of a person, i.e. he judges objectively. A false judgment becomes when a person expresses his interest based on personal reasons, and not on what is actually happening.

Inference

An inference is a thought formed by two or more judgments. This is a new – more complex judgment. Any inference consists of a premise, a conclusion and a conclusion. The premise is an initial judgment, the conclusion is logical thinking leading to a conclusion.

These three forms of abstract thinking form its basis. We operate all abstractions with their help. But what we have said (forms and types of abstract thinking and abstractions, their goals, etc.) may not be entirely sufficient for understanding abstract thinking and its features, since, in essence, all this is theory. Therefore, it makes sense to talk separately about specific examples.

What does it mean to “abstract” and 7 techniques on how to learn it

Hello, dear readers! Have you ever wanted to be somewhere in a parallel universe - far from the hustle and bustle, problems and disagreements? In the endless flow of life, the human psyche becomes so tired that it cannot cope with the processing and restoration of energy. In this case, the ability to abstraction helps. You may ask: “abstract – what does that mean?”

From the word abstraction - mental distraction, detachment . Simply put, this is the ability to separate from something (situation, emotions, feelings, etc.) in order to look at it from the outside or temporarily interrupt direct contact.

This is done in order to put thoughts in order and make an informed decision. The ability to abstract is of great importance in a person’s life, as it helps to cope with life’s difficulties, stress and objectively assess any problem. To find out in what situations you can use abstraction techniques and how to learn it, read on.

Application – in everything

The method of scientific abstraction is used in many areas: politics, mathematics, logic. We have already learned that under the general concept of abstraction lies a distraction from external phenomena in order to highlight unimportant details or the essence of the subject itself. Thanks to such an “outside view,” scientific concepts are born, which, in turn, form unified properties and connections that are combined into categories.

Thus, scientific abstraction can be traced in economics. In the world there are millions of different food and non-food products that people need every day. They all differ in many characteristics and properties. But, moving away from their endless comparisons, man involuntarily united them into a single category - goods as products intended for sale.

Scientific abstraction is noticeable in construction. Every construction includes a detailed calculation that takes into account the features of the future building. But exact geometric correspondences, as well as the strict interaction of all its individual components, are not always 100% feasible - it is either theoretically impossible or practically unacceptable due to excessive complexity. Because of this, using the method of scientific abstraction, the structure is schematized. Alleged minor factors are excluded, which, in turn, does not affect the accuracy and reliability of the calculations performed.

Thinking abstractly is the ability of every person

To summarize the topic discussed, we now definitely know what abstraction is - a mental, conscious distraction from the properties of an object, due to which a new idea about it appears or a logical concept is formed.

The ability to apply abstraction in everyday life is inherent in a person from birth. In many ways, language skills and the development of the language itself play a big role here. Thus, when thoughts “flow” in an abstract order, consciousness does not focus on individual features of an object, characterizing it according to general indicators (for example, “fruit”). In contrast to the abstract, science provides arguments for the concrete - in this case, consciousness expands the boundaries of understanding, looking for additional properties (not just “fruit”, but “orange” or “sweet and sour apple”).

Approaches to classification of methods

There are different criteria for classifying scientific research methods:

content of the objects being studied (natural sciences, social sciences and humanities);
level of knowledge (empirical, theoretical);
scope of application and degree of generality (general, general scientific, particular, special).

In a broader sense, all existing research methods are divided into theoretical and practical. It is desirable that the thesis work contains instruments from both of these groups.

Example of a system of research methods

The cogs of our internal mechanism

So what is abstraction? Undoubtedly, this is a complex mechanism that we resort to, sometimes without even realizing it. Mentally, a person separates the existing from the non-existent, isolating individual elements from the set. This could be a chain of events, a series of processes, a group of objects. Thus, turning to the individual characteristics of a person, psychology is able to abstract general properties from specific ones that apply to a given individual. This once again proves the indisputable argument that each person, like his mind and consciousness, is unique.