What is the difference between a subject of research and an object? How is the object and subject of research determined? How to determine the object and subject of scientific research

Write down object and subject of research according to the student’s individual project. Let's consider what is the difference between the subject and the object of research, what is called the object and the subject of research in a student’s project or research work.


In this section, we will consider the formulation of the object and subject of research in a student’s research work and project, for carrying out individual and group project work at school and for the competent design of the project itself.

Object of study- this is what will be taken by the student for study and research. It does not have to be any inanimate object or living creature.

In research activities, the object of research is not always an object or a living being, it can be a process or a phenomenon of reality. Usually the name of the research object is contained in the answer to the question: What is being considered?

Subject of study- this is a special problem, individual aspects of an object, its properties and features, which, without going beyond the scope of the object under study, will be investigated in the work (project). Usually the name of the subject of research is contained in the answer to the question: what is being studied?

In a research paper, the object and subject of research, the purpose, objectives and methods of research are formulated and written down in the introduction of the project.

Examples of object and subject of research

Object of study: Subject of study:
magnet properties of magnets
Mount Chatyrdag legends and myths about Mount Chatyrdag
trigonometric equations and their systems methods for selecting roots in trigonometric equations and systems
school students and teachers SMS addiction
English sentences ways and reasons for the arrangement of words in English sentences
family and tribal customs native ritual
social orphans in a rehabilitation center the process of social support and protection of orphans and children left without parental care
eye properties and structure of the eye as an optical instrument
microclimate of classrooms microclimate conditions in classrooms
a magnetic field magnetic field in school classrooms

Description of the object and subject of research


Let's look at some interesting examples of the formulation of the object and subject of study, which relate to student research works and projects, as well as research papers.

Let us give examples of recording a subject and an object in a research work (project) on the effect of chips on human health, on the study of the iron and copper content in apple juices for baby food, as well as on the adaptation of seals to zoo conditions.

Sometimes, instead of the phrase “Objects of research,” “Objects of observation” is better suited. Objects of observation can be plants, animals, insects and other living beings, as well as stars, planets, clouds, i.e. something that we can follow and observe over time.

Example 1

Object of study: chips.

Subject of study: the impact of chips on children's health.

Example 2

Object of study: sterilized and filtered apple juices in aseptic packaging.

Subject of study: iron and copper content in sterilized and filtered apple juices.

Example 3

Objects of observation: two seal pups brought to the zoo from the Baltic Sea coast.

Subject of study: adaptation of seals to zoo conditions.

Example 4

Objects of observation: microclimate of classrooms.

Subject of study: microclimate conditions in school classrooms.

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.

First, an object of study is selected - a certain sphere of reality, which represents an integral system. The basis for the choice is the imperfection of the theory of the object under consideration, i.e. its insufficient explanatory and/or predictive capabilities. Concept item research, more specifically in its content. It fixes that property or relationship in an object, which in this case is subject to deep special study. The subject of research is understood as a sphere of reality, which is part of an object, beyond which it does not go, and in relation to which there is no theory or the theory is incomplete. These are, as it were, “blank spots” in the theory of the object. Various research subjects can be identified in the same object. The subject includes only those elements, connections and relationships of the object that are subject to research, study, and development in this master’s work. Therefore, defining the subject of research means both establishing the boundaries of the search and making assumptions about the most significant connections in terms of the problem posed, directions of search, the most important tasks, and the possibility of solving them using appropriate means and methods.

Dependency between concepts object and subject can be represented as a function:

F = f(x),

where, F is the object and f(x)- item.

For example, object research is the task of “target distribution of the device’s performance indicator.”

Subject research in this case may be a modified mathematical model of the target distribution problem.

The object of research of the dissertation is knowledge that generates a problem situation, united in a certain concept or system of concepts, and is defined as an area of ​​scientific research.

The subject of the dissertation research can be defined as new scientific knowledge about the object of research, obtained by the applicant as a result of scientific research (or that side of the object of research, those of its properties, that area of ​​application that are being studied). The subject of the dissertation research may also include a tool for obtaining this new scientific knowledge about the object of research if it has significant features of novelty. To a first approximation, the object and subject of research are related to each other as general and specific. The subject of research, as a rule, is within the boundaries of the object of study. If, for example, the object of research is a certain system (technical, sociological, etc.), then the subject of research may be one of the elements of the system or connections between elements.

Purpose of research- this is the planned end result, i.e. eliminating a vulnerable link in the overall chain (increase, improve, ensure quality and (or) efficiency, etc.). The goal must be specific; it is always formulated and interpreted as practical. It is precisely the practical need in the name of which the solution of an urgent scientific problem is carried out that should reflect the purpose of scientific research. Sometimes when formulating, they indicate areas and ways of using the result obtained.



Determining the subject of the dissertation research practically represents the development and specification of a scientific problem based on the objectives of the research, the branch of knowledge and the object of study. It is important to pay attention to the existing, previously obtained scientific results on the topic of the work as elements of a future dissertation.

Are they elements of a solution to a problem that is of significant importance and which will be given, or elements (developments) that provide a solution to an important applied problem of economics or defense capability? And in the title of the work, it is advisable to immediately try to determine what the nature of the results of the dissertation is.

As practice shows, undergraduates who attach great importance to the construction of the subject of research noticeably benefit in terms of completion time and quality of work.

We will try to describe the sequence of determining the subject of the dissertation research for the following conditions for starting the study (Fig. 2).

Rice. 2. The sequence of determining the subject of the dissertation research

First option. The work is largely theoretical, for example: research of mathematical dependencies, proof of a hypothesis, generalization of some idea about the object of the dissertation, creation of a new approach, definition of some elements in theory, etc. There is reason to think that the result of the work will be the solution of a problem that is of significant importance for the field of knowledge. Consequently, the definition of the subject of research may contain the words “solution”, “task”, “statement”, “problem”. The first two words must directly indicate on what basis the results are protected. Further in the definition there may be a formulation of the distinctive feature of the solution.

Second option. The results relate to one scientific area, are useful for practical use, and can be implemented and successfully used in practice. In this case, you should try to formulate the name of an important applied problem, the solution of which is approached by these results. The orientation of the subject of the dissertation research follows the second criterion, which determines the nature of the dissertation results. It is recommended to use the words “development”, “methods”, “devices” in the title.

Methods, devices, techniques, approaches can be specified in the name indicating the solution to what important application problem they provide.

The simplest way to construct a research subject is for the applicant to select a list of issues to be considered and arrange them in the sequence in which they will be examined. This is how the dissertation outline is built. Each item is complemented by characteristics of novelty, usefulness, and reliability.

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

Object of study: Subject of study:
magnet properties of magnets
Mount Chatyrdag legends and myths about Mount Chatyrdag
trigonometric equations and their systems methods for selecting roots in trigonometric equations and systems
school students and teachers gadget addiction
social orphans in a rehabilitation center the process of social support and protection of orphans and children left without parental care
eye properties and structure of the eye as an optical instrument
microclimate of classrooms microclimate conditions in classrooms
a magnetic field magnetic field in school classrooms