Methodological Problems Research Articles

One does not simply create an AI issue. On the pseudo-problematic nature of AI issue

The debate surrounding the topic of Artificial Intelligence (ai), and its different meanings, seems to be ever-growing. This paper aims to deconstruct the seemingly problematic nature of the ai debate, revealing layers of ambiguity and misperceptions that contribute to a pseudo-problematic narrative. Through a review of existing literature, ethical frameworks, and public discourse, this essay identifies key areas where misconceptions, hyperbole, and exaggerated fears have overshadowed the genuine concerns associated with ai development and deployment. To identify these issues I propose three general criteria that are based on Popper’s and Ayer’s work and adjusted to my needs. The subsequent sections categorize ai issues into ontological, methodological, and logical-grammatical problems, aligning with Cackowski’s typology. In addition, I introduce «» signs to distinguish behavioural descriptions from cognitive states, aiming to maintain clarity between external evidence and internal agent states. My conclusion is quite simple: the ai debate should be thoroughly revised, and we, as scholars, should define the concepts that lie at the bottom of ai by creating a universal terminology and agreeing upon it. This will give us the opportunity to conduct our debates reasonably and understandably for both scholars and the popular public.

Trudne pytanie o tożsamość informatyki. O podstawowych sposobach rozumienia terminu informatyka

The text is methodological in nature and raises definitional issues related to the development of the concept of computer science. Based on studies in the history of computing, computer science, philosophy of technology and science methodology. The author analyzes the basic ways of understanding term computer sciences. The article indicates three definitional (scope) approaches that dominate scientific considerations. The author also indicates the main methodological problems related to the functioning of the concept of computer science in contemporary science and technology and possible ways to solve this issues.

Инкубационные процессы в решении задач: современное состояние и перспективы исследований

<p style="text-align: justify;">The article provides an overview of the current state of research on incubation processes in solving problems. The main theoretical approaches to understanding the mechanisms of incubation, as well as methodological features and problems associated with the study of this phenomenon are considered. The shortcomings of existing research methods have been identified, including the lack of standardization in the definition of incubation, variations in experimental designs and differences in the interpretation of the duration of the incubation period. This triggers the need to create more universal methods for evaluating incubation effects. The study is novel in the analysis of existing knowledge about incubation, as well as in the assumption that there is a set of interrelated processes influencing the effectiveness of incubation intervention. We emphasize the need to integrate approaches to better understand incubation effects. This point of view helps to resolve the apparent inconsistency of various theoretical models and opens up new opportunities for studying incubation. Special attention is paid to the role of the incubation period in solving a wide range of problems, including creative, academic and professional tasks. Various types of incubation interventions and their impact on the effectiveness of problem solving are analyzed. Promising directions for further research in the field of incubation processes, as well as their practical applications, are outlined.</p>

The proper application of logistic regression model in complex survey data: a systematic review

BackgroundLogistic regression is a useful statistical technique commonly used in many fields like healthcare, marketing, or finance to generate insights from binary outcomes (e.g., sick vs. not sick). However, when applying logistic regression to complex survey data, which includes complex sampling designs, specific methodological issues are often overlooked.MethodsThe systematic review extensively searched the PubMed and ScienceDirect databases from January 2015 to December 2021, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines, focusing primarily on the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS). 810 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. When discussing logistic regression, the review considered multiple methodological problems such as the model adequacy assessment, handling dependence of observations, utilization of complex survey design, dealing with missing values, outliers, and more.ResultsAmong the selected articles, the DHS database was used the most (96%), with MICS accounting for only 3%, and both DHS and MICS accounting for 1%. Of these, it was found that only 19.7% of the studies employed multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression to account for data dependencies. Model validation techniques were not reported in 94.8% of the studies with limited uses of the bootstrap, jackknife, and other resampling methods. Moreover, sample weights, PSUs, and strata variables were used together in 40.4% of the articles, and 41.7% of the studies did not use any of these variables, which could have produced biased results. Goodness-of-fit assessments were not mentioned in 75.3% of the articles, and the Hosmer–Lemeshow and likelihood ratio test were the most common among those reported. Furthermore, 95.8% of studies did not mention outliers, and only 41.0% of studies corrected for missing information, while only 2.7% applied imputation techniques.ConclusionsThis systematic review highlights important gaps in the use of logistic regression with complex survey data, such as overlooking data dependencies, survey design, and proper validation techniques, along with neglecting outliers, missing data, and goodness-of-fit assessments, all of which point to the need for clearer methodological standards and more thorough reporting to improve the reliability of results. Future research should focus on consistently following these standards to ensure stronger and more dependable findings.

Sustainable development of social responsibility in universities in the digital era: Perceptions and advances

The strategy of transforming universities into producers of new knowledge for technological enhancement through digital technologies, aimed at improving the quality of life and ensuring social responsibility and sustainability by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, underscores the relevance of our research. This research aims to investigate the evolution of students’ social responsibility within university settings amidst the backdrop of educational digitalization. The research methodology was based on a model of social responsibility as an integrative personal quality. The study revealed the insufficiency of the formation of the motivational factor of social responsibility among undergraduate students and the prevalence of instrumental motivation among a significant number of master's students. The null hypothesis was refuted and a pronounced positive dynamics of students’ social responsibility in the learning process was demonstrated. The need to orient the higher education system toward the development of students’ moral aspirations for conscious regulation of their educational and future professional activities was substantiated. The results of the study can be used to solve theoretical, methodological and practical problems of sociology. Future research aims to explore the driving components of students’ social responsibility motivation, to study comparative attitudes towards social responsibility between students and teachers, and to study the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in the context of universities’ corporate social responsibility. This expansion will include diversifying the respondent pool to cover other educational institutions, as well as expanding the sample to different cultural contexts.

A plea for modelling in ethics

We present an argument about the methodology of ethics, broadly conceived, drawing on recent research on modelling in the philosophy of science. More specifically, we argue that normative ethics should adopt the methodology of modelling. We make our case in two parts. First, despite the perhaps unfamiliar terminology, modelling already happens in ethics. We identify it, and argue that its practice could be improved by recognising that it is modelling and by adopting some methodological lessons from philosophy of science. Second, modelling should be adopted more widely within normative ethics, because it fits well with various methodological ends we shall identify. Models can be used to investigate ethical questions in a manner that is systematic but relatively free of foundational theoretical commitments in first-order ethics. Models are more local, and less ambitious, than theories. They can be used to break deadlocks, by focusing attention on the particularities of a sub-domain and by providing a common tool–the surrogate model system–which each side can use to make their principles precise, illustrate the implications of their view, and identify sources of disagreement or points of agreement. We are pluralists about method, so this is not a call to abandon other philosophical methods. It is simply a plea for modelling, motivated by the method’s independent benefits and its fruitfulness in resolving some persistent methodological problems in ethics.

Thinking beyond substances: Why behavioral "addiction" research must move past substance use disorder paradigms.

In this viewpoint article, the authors contend that behavioral addiction (BA) research must move past substance use disorder paradigms. Under the most liberal definitions of BA, activities such as eating, exercise, work, smartphone use, and a litany of others could all become addictions. Abundant clinical evidence shows that people may frequently engage in behaviors in ways that become impairing. Yet, frequency of engagement in a behavior is insufficient evidence that addiction is occurring and may be of little evidentiary value at all. There are also severe problems with assuming equivalence between all behavioral processes and substance use. The conceptual problems manifest in methodological problems, meaning that many of the methodological approaches used in substance use research are likely not valid for BA research. Given abundant evidence that the behavior patterns commonly referred to as BAs are associated with distress and impairment, BAs are likely to continue to garner interest in both clinical care and clinical science. To better understand the phenomenology of BAs, research should first start with systematic and multimethod investigations among patients reporting such problems. That is, rather than simply co-opting methods and measures from substance use disorder (SUD) research, BA research should carefully consider the signs and symptoms reported by people experiencing real impairments from excessive and dysregulated behavioral engagements. Additionally, BA researchers should seek to engage with larger theoretical perspectives on psychopathology regarding the core processes that seem to be driving such impairments. For BA research to achieve scientific legitimacy, explain clinical phenomena, and, ultimately, reduce human suffering, the study of such disorders must move beyond SUD paradigms and addiction framing alone and instead strive for riskier tests of validity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Lawson’s Psychological Critical Thinking Exam as an instrument to improve critical thinking

INTRODUCTION. Critical thinking is vital in both science and daily life, being crucial for identifying anecdotal evidence, unfalsifiable hypotheses, biased data sampling, and unreliable causal connections. This study aimed to adapt Lawson’s revised version of the Psychological Critical Thinking Exam (PCTE) into Spanish, and to use it to assess improvement in Psychology students taking a module on reasoning. METHOD. Eighty-seven third-year Psychology students responded to the odd items of the original PCTE at the beginning of the term, and to the even items at the end. During the module, one session was dedicated to discussing Lawson’s critical thinking questions, evaluating the reliability of purportedly scientific statements. RESULTS. Students’ critical thinking skills improved both in problem detection (i.e., volunteers who initially failed to identify methodological problems, then did) and in accurately detecting the target problem (i.e., issues related to the critical thinking question addressed). DISCUSSION. We consider the PCTE a valuable tool for assessing and developing critical thinking among university students. Moreover, we suggest that this study itself could serve as didactic material for analysis by students, enhancing their critical thinking skills.

Studying Kurdishness in Turkey: A review of existing research.

Knowledge production on marginalized identities is frequently shaped by epistemic violence, which limits both the scope and methodologies of research. One example of this is the case of Kurdish identity in Turkey, where we find that methodological and epistemic problems are evident particularly in social psychological research. To summarize social psychological studies on Kurdishness, Kurdish identity and conflict in Turkey we've conducted a systematic review that includes a total of 63 studies on topics related to Kurdishness. We utilize qualitative content analysis (Schreier, 2012) to address: (1) whether samples in the studies in our review represent Kurds, (2) which topics the studies mostly focus on, (3) how Kurdish identity and Kurds as a group are conceptualized and (4) how the Kurdish issue is conceptualized. We discuss our findings in light of epistemic violence and methodological nationalism and identify the key gaps in the literature and offer a critical, inclusive understanding of the social psychological studies on Kurdish identity and state violence in Turkey.

Classifications of haemodialysis vascular access stenosis: a scoping review

ObjectivesVascular access (VA) stenoses play a significant role in the morbidity of the haemodialysed population. Classifications for diagnosis, assessment and proposal of treatment strategies can be useful clinical and methodological...

Artificial Intelligence in After-school Education (on the Example of Tourism and Local Studies Institutions).

The article is devoted to the problem of using artificial intelligence in the activities of after-school educational institutions of tourism and local studies. The possible directions of using artificial intelligence specifically in the educational process of study groups, in the organizational and managerial activities of after-school educational institutions, in the organization and arrangement of mass events are identified. Specific forms of using artificial intelligence in after-school tourism and local studies education institutions are highlighted to ensure the safety of events, prepare tourist trips, hikes, excursions, and organize the work of tourist route and qualification commissions. Based on a educators' survey of after-school education institutions of Ukraine using Google forms, the level of use of information and communication technologies and artificial intelligence by pedagogical staff of after-school education institutions of tourism and local studies is determined. The level of understanding by teachers of the concept of “artificial intelligence” and ways of its use in educational activities in after-school education is determined. The technologies of artificial intelligence used by educators, the directions of using artificial intelligence (search for necessary information, creation of text, graphic and test educational materials, creation of news and advertising materials, monitoring of the security situation) are determined. The organizational, methodological and technical problems that, in the opinion of educators, hinder the use of artificial intelligence technologies, ways for educators to acquire competencies in the use of artificial intelligence technologies are highlighted. It has been established that the main source of educators' acquisition of competencies in artificial intelligence is self-education.

Do You Speak Dialect? Yes!

This article constitutes a continuation of the publication ‘Measuring Pronunciation: A Discursive Research Model’ (Kardelis, 2023).The primary objective of the paper was to apply the discourse model of dialectality measurement and to assess its implementation of the behavioural dimension of the trinomial model of language attitudes. The objective of the study was to empirically examine speakers’ attitudes towards the utilisation of dialectal language in informal settings with family members and friends from their native land. To this end, two tasks were identified: firstly, to present the course of the research and discuss the results, and secondly, to outline the research perspectives. The methodological principle of the study was the link between the cognitive and the emotional ↔ behavioural dimension. In essence, the methodology involved a dual-faceted approach: first, to ascertain whether informants employed dialectal language in informal settings with family members and friends from their country of origin; and second, to examine the practical implementation of this linguistic phenomenon. The most significant finding of this study is that the proposed discursive model of dialect measurement research functions in principle, yet it remains to be refined. The study also demonstrates the feasibility of collecting data for the model remotely. Secondly, the study yielded noteworthy insights concerning the utilisation of questionnaires in survey research. The study demonstrates that questionnaires alone cannot be relied upon to explain dialect. This is evidenced by the finding that respondents’ self-reported dialect use, in terms of its circumstances and frequency, is subject to a conflict between objective and subjective dialect. This conflict cannot be resolved by questionnaires alone and further research is required. The calculation of the dialect index according to the formula developed in this study demonstrated that, with one exception, RAP informants are more ‘dialectal’ than RAU informants with respect to objective dialect. It is important to note that it is not possible to draw any broader generalisations from a selection of several or even a few dozen informants on one or another of the points under study. The snowball method, a favoured approach among sociolinguists and dialectologists, may appear advantageous in terms of material collection. However, it is crucial to recognise its inherent limitations, the most significant of which revolves around its randomness. It is challenging to identify patterns within randomness, particularly when attempting to achieve a comprehensive overview. Consequently, a dilemma arises in the pursuit of an objective portrayal of the dialectal landscape of the Lithuanian language, its characteristics, and the indices that define it. This challenge is not merely a methodological or technical problem, but rather a complex one that demands resolution. A further challenge lies in the monitoring process within the domestic environment, a prerequisite for achieving an objective and reliable measurement of dialectal variation.

ХИЩЕНИЯ В СФЕРЕ ОБОРОТА КРИПТОВАЛЮТЫ В СТРУКТУРЕ КИБЕРПРЕСТУПЛЕНИЙ: ВИДЫ, ПРОБЛЕМЫ РАССЛЕДОВАНИЯ (БЕЛОРУССКИЙ ОПЫТ)

Abstract Introduction: the article presents an analysis of the phenomenon of cryptocurrency theft within the context of cybercrime in the Republic of Belarus. The objective is to identify the tactical and procedural challenges encountered by Belarusian law enforcement agencies in investigating this category of crimes. The necessity for this research is determined by the requirement to identify scientifically sound methods of solving the problems identified, with the aim of improving the effectiveness of the investigation process of theft in the sphere of cryptocurrency turnover. Materials and Methods: the author of the article has conducted a comprehensive investigation into the regulatory framework governing the turnover of cryptocurrency in the territory of the Republic of Belarus, as well as the activities of law enforcement agencies in investigating crimes. This involved a detailed analysis of relevant legal instruments and materials from judicial and investigative practice. In preparing this article, a variety of methods were employed, including the general method of cognition, as well as general and particular scientific methods. These included the statistical method, the formal-legal method, the system-structural method, the formal-logical method, and others. Literature Review: a review of the literature was conducted, focusing on works by Belarusian and Russian authors that address legal issues related to cryptocurrency turnover and the methodology of investigating theft in this context. Results revealed that the author proposed a system of methods for committing theft in the sphere of cryptocurrency turnover in the territory of the Republic of Belarus. Furthermore, the research identified the problems of obtaining criminalistically significant information in cases of this category, as well as organisational and methodological problems affecting the effectiveness of the investigation process of cryptocurrency theft. Discussion and Conclusions: the ways of enhancing the efficacy of the investigative methodology for crimes involving cryptocurrency turnover by modifying the Belarusian approach to the legal regulation of cryptocurrency turnover, establishing new channels for acquiring criminologically significant information from foreign sources, and improving the tactics for conducting certain investigative and procedural actions have been identified.

Gut Microbiota as a Modulator of Post-Stress Neuroinflammation: Methodological Limitations of Existing Research Practices

According to the current hypothesis, gut microbiota has a significant impact on the central nervous system and behavior through various mechanisms, including modulation of the immune system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis), epigenetic regulation of gene expression, and production of metabolites. The gut-brain axis is one of the key targets for research into the mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease, pathological anxiety, mood disorders, and autism. It is suggested that post-stress neuroinflammation, which may be related to changes in the microbiota, plays a role in the development of these pathologies. However, the discovered “dysbiotic patterns” in the microbiomes of animal models under different stress models and in patients suffering from psychopathologies are not specific and may be secondary to the disease. The lack of understanding of the mechanisms by which gut microbiota is involved in the pathogenesis of neuro- and psychopathologies hinders the translation of results obtained from animal models. The review discusses the main methodological problems of research on the “gut-brain axis” and explores ways to address them.

Ensuring balance reliability in planning the development of electric power systems: methodological, informational and regulatory content

The stages of improving the methodological and model support balance reliability problem of electric power systems in recent years from the standpoint of substantiation reservation levels are considered. The analysis new methodological instructions for the design development of energy systems and possible impact of their application on decisions in modern conditions are given the analysis of developed and approved by the Russian Ministry of Energy.

Rhythmic entrainment of heart rate as a mechanism for musical emotion induction: A plausible hypothesis in need of evidence?

Several researchers have hypothesized that a musical rhythm can influence a listener’s heart rate through a process of entrainment and that this mechanism can influence the emotional feelings of the listener also. However, previous research has yielded mixed results, perhaps due to methodological problems. In this study, we independently manipulated the tempo of pieces of ambient instrumental music with a salient rhythm to influence the heart rate of 36 listeners with varying musical backgrounds, who also reported felt arousal and valence and subjective impressions of various induction mechanisms. Using a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design, we manipulated direction (up vs. down) and magnitude (±3% vs. ±30%) of tempo change and extent of listener movement (finger tapping vs. still listening). For each trial, the tempo was manipulated in reference to the present heart rate of the individual listener. The results showed little evidence of entrainment. In general, listeners’ heart rate did not align with the target tempo (i.e., entrainment proper) nor did it change in the direction of the target tempo (i.e., entrainment tendencies). Instead, regardless of direction and size of tempo change, we observed a similar small increase in heart rate and arousal. The results are consistent with a general arousal effect of musical rhythm.

Development of the justice mechanism: testing justice

The article examines in a fundamental format the problems of the mechanism of justice on the principles of justice and its development. The shortcomings of the basic level of the domestic justice mechanism are shown. The problems of the scientific methodology of fundamental approaches to eliminating these shortcomings and improving the mechanism of justice, including in the long term, are highlighted. In particular, it is proposed to reform non-federal justice (to expand the vector of development of world justice from centralization to decentralization with its separation from the federal justice mechanism; to create judicial structures below the level of world justice in the sparsely populated territories of the north-east of the country; to restore on a fundamentally different basis the constitutional (statutory) courts of the subjects of the Russian Federation); to create some qualitatively new judicial bodies of their own jurisdiction; to create a state constitutional body (under the conditional name “Council of the Judiciary of the Russian Federation”), personifying the judicial branch of the state the authorities.

The goal setting in law: the theoretical and methodological problems of substantive and procedural law

The article analyzes the actual problem of modern jurisprudence – the goal-setting of law. Goal-setting as a doctrinally grounded, systematic and practice-oriented process precedes the formulation of goals in law, participates in the procedures for their legitimization in the normative legal space and accompanies the implementation of set goals throughout legal activity, in a particular area of legal regulation of public relations. Goal-setting in law is involved in norm-setting, legal realization, including law enforcement, and acquires special importance in conditions of uncertainty, instability of law and order, a high degree of conflict and risks of international legal relations, as well as threats to national, public and personal security. The actualization of the problems of goal-setting, being relatively in demand in scientific research of theoretical and sectoral jurisprudence, is primarily due to the need to argue tactics and strategies for building modern legal policy (law policy), without specifying the target reasons for improving which, the authority and effectiveness of rulemaking and legal implementation seem insufficiently effective. The functional expediency of formulating, formalizing and following the set goals has not only praxiological, but also axiological significance from the standpoint, first of all, of observing and protecting individual (personal) and collective human and civil rights and freedoms. Goal-setting in substantive and procedural law is translated to one degree or another through the presentation of norms-goals. norms are principles, norms are tasks, but they do not have a fully rationally justified systematization, which should initiate the scientific interest. Satisfaction of the interests and needs of the individual, society and the state balanced by law as a target setting (super task) of law, in conditions of a clear and rational definition of the goals of legislation, becomes important taking into account the peculiarities of modern legal reality, as well as for the future.

Karl Popper's "Critical Rationalism": The way to freedom and democracy

In the history of science, there are known cases when people come into life whose vocation is to make a series of discoveries, which then change the scientific views of entire generations. The name of the philosopher Karl Popper became world-famous during his lifetime, because the achievements of this scientist impress with the originality and boldness of ideas, a high level of scientific knowledge and the scale of world perception. The article is devoted to the analysis of the life and activities of the outstanding philosopher and sociologist of the 20th century. Karl Raimund Popper, who was best known for his scientific works on the methodology and philosophy of science, as well as social and political philosophy. It is shown that his logical concept of the growth of scientific knowledge, which he began to develop in the 20s of the 20th century became the basis for the creation of the principle of falsification, which he proposed as a criterion for demarcation between science and pseudoscience. It is noted that in the following logical and methodological works of the scientist, a transition is observed in the field of scientific research of the scientist from logical and methodological problems of epistemology or the theory of scientific knowledge to the general theory of knowledge and evolutionary epistemology, as well as a transition from already obtained results to socio-political problems. The process of formation of the theory of critical rationalism was highlighted, which was that any theory, hypothesis, scientific knowledge should be as objective as possible and not depend on the opinion of individual people or communities. An analysis of the scientist's works in the field of social philosophy was carried out, which were based on the concepts of scientific knowledge and cognition developed by him. It has been studied that such a concept as "historicism" takes an important part in the formation of a totalitarian society, and the utopian ideas of Marxism, socialism and communism only lead to the inhibition of the development of any society. K. Popper's position on this issue is highlighted. The difference between an open and a closed society, which is traced in the scientist's scientific heritage, is reflected. And the impact of K. Popper's scientific heritage on the modern realities of Ukraine and the entire democratic world in the conditions of an international armed conflict is also determined.

Academician of the All-Ukrainian Academy of Sciences Petro Mykhaylovych Suprunenko: Life and activity

The article updates the most significant information about the outstanding scientist-mechanic and railwayman of the first third of the 20th century Academician of the All-Ukrainian Academy of Sciences Petro Mykhaylovych Suprunenko (1893–1938). It is proven that his activities in the field of railway development are a significant contribution to the development of world science and technology. The main scientific works of the scientist and engineer are devoted to important problems of transport mechanics. He paid special attention to locomotive and wagon construction (he was a wagon designer). Wagons were built on the basis of a large amount of experimental material, which at one time received significant public resonance and scientific and technical recognition. It is emphasized that P. M. Suprunenko was one of the first railway engineers who proposed a scientific analysis of the interaction of the track with the rolling stock of railways. The article notes that today P. M. Suprunenko is mentioned very little, only fragments of his biography are described, only some of his scientific works are characterized. In the Institute of Transport Mechanics of the All-Ukrainian Academy of Sciences headed by him, the following research was successfully developed under his leadership: methodological problems of transport mechanics were highlighted in order to comprehensively solve the tasks of modernization of the railway industry; research of non-stationary dynamic processes of interaction of rolling stock (train) with the track system (especially the study of the resonance phenomenon); research of the theory of calculations of locomotive traction on railway tracks in order to optimize elements of transport mechanics and increase their efficiency, etc. The article describes in detail each of these areas of research by P. M. Suprunenko. In general, his research focused on problems of railway transport. In the field of train traction theory, P. M. Suprunenko created a number of new methods for graphical integration of differential equations of train motion, paid significant attention to improving existing ones and creating new devices designed to measure the characteristics of various processes occurring in rolling stock and tracks. The scientist's achievements in the initial period of railway transport construction in Ukraine, especially on the South-Western Railways, are confirmed. The article shows that the role of P. M. Suprunenko was in his scientific work as an "idea generator" and a leading theorist in combination with engineering activities.