3.4. Results of scientific research: types and requirements, the concept of scientific novelty

The meaning of scientific research, its social value, is determined by the scientific result obtained. A scientific result is both the goal and the reward of the researcher. Everything connected with scientific research can be defined through the concept of a scientific result:

• - What is research activity?
• - It is activity aimed at obtaining a new scientific result.
• - How should scientific research be organised?
• - So that the result obtained satisfies the requirements of reliability, novelty and usefulness.

Note: not every product of research work can be considered a "scientific result".
A scientific result – is a product of scientific activity, obtained through the application of some scientific-methodological apparatus and satisfying the requirements of novelty, reliability and usefulness.
The forms of a scientific result are: concept, theory, law, regularity, classification, method, etc. (Fig. 3.9).
Examples of scientific results:

• - a concept for managing enterprise development based on reconciling the interests of economic actors, as well as production-and-economic systems of various levels;
• - a procedure for forming an enterprise's product strategy under conditions of a transforming economy;
• - a system of methods for managing career development at an enterprise;
• - a system of indicators for the flexibility of an enterprise's production potential;
• - the formulation of the problem of optimising the actions of a dealer network in terms of linear programming theory.

As has already been mentioned more than once, the main requirements imposed on a scientific result are reliability, novelty and usefulness (Fig. 3.10). It is time to work out what these requirements mean.

Reliability of a scientific result – is its regularly expressed conditionality by objectively existing cause-and-effect relationships in the corresponding subject area.
Confirmation of the reliability of a scientific result is its substantiation.

Novelty of a scientific result – is a concept characterising the fact that the scientific result has been obtained for the first time in the world (Fig. 3.11).
The novelty of a scientific result also implies its non-triviality, that is, the impossibility of obtaining such a result by means of a previously known scientific-methodological apparatus.
Generally speaking, novelty can be absolute (world-wide) or relative (if the scientific result is new only for some particular group). However, just as there is no such thing as sturgeon of the second freshness, so the novelty of a scientific result must be absolute only. Confirming the novelty of a result requires two conditions:
1) publication of the given result by the author;
2) the absence of a similar scientific result in earlier publications by other authors (Fig. 3.12)

Usefulness of a scientific result – is the demand for this result by science and/or practice. Scientific and practical usefulness are distinguished.
If the obtained scientific result satisfies the requirement of scientific usefulness, then it is a contribution by the author to science (provided that it is new and reliable).
Note: not every useful scientific result is a contribution to science (that is, to theory, to methodology). Some results constitute a contribution to the practice of the subject area. In this connection, scientific results are classified into theoretical and practical ones (Fig. 3.13).

Theoretical results are formulated in the form of scientific propositions. Example of a scientific proposition: "For a homogeneous electrical circuit, the current equals the voltage divided by the resistance" – Ohm's law. Practical results manifest themselves in the form of scientific effects.
Scientific results that constitute a contribution to science are characterised by a high degree of generalisation and abstractness. The more specific the formulation of a scientific problem, the greater the contribution of the result obtained not to science but to practice. Suppose, for example, that researcher A has developed an organisational structure for a specific enterprise, OJSC "XXX", while researcher B has developed a concept for forming an enterprise's organisational structure depending on the strategy of activity chosen. Feel the difference. Where is the contribution to science, and where is the contribution to practice?

Example 3.5
On results that do not meet the requirement of usefulness: every year Cambridge University holds the presentation of the so-called Ig Nobel Prizes, which are awarded for useless and silly, or amusing, research results. Here are just a few of the achievements recognised with an Ig Nobel Prize:

• - calculating the optimal way to dunk a biscuit;
• - carrying out a statistical analysis confirming the rule that a sandwich always falls buttered side down;
• - determining the surface area of an elephant;
• - proving that beer foam settles in accordance with the mathematical law of exponential decay;
• - creating a chili pepper completely devoid of spiciness;
• - inventing a washing machine for dogs and cats.

The concept of scientific novelty

Scientific novelty is a result of research that has not previously been obtained or has not been considered in the form proposed by the author. It shows what new contribution the work makes to the study of the chosen scientific problem.

Scientific novelty can be expressed in:

• identifying new facts, connections or regularities;
• developing a new approach to an already known problem;
• improving existing methods, models, classifications and procedures;
• a new interpretation, systematisation or generalisation of previously known scientific results.

At the same time, scientific novelty does not necessarily have to represent a fundamentally revolutionary discovery. For a student research project, it is enough to convincingly demonstrate how the results obtained differ from already existing approaches and what new elements were introduced by the author.

What can the novelty of a project consist of?

The novelty of a study can take various forms. When describing it, it is necessary to specify precisely what result:

• has been obtained for the first time;
• has been improved on the basis of existing approaches;
• has been refined, made more specific or systematised;
• has received further development.

For example, theoretical novelty can be formulated as follows: "For the first time it has been substantiated…", "The classification has been improved…", "The understanding of… has been refined", "The approach to… has received further development".

Practical novelty can be expressed in the creation of a specific result: "Methodological recommendations have been developed…", "An algorithm has been proposed…", "A model has been developed…", "A software module has been created…".

Thus, when formulating scientific novelty, it is important not to limit oneself to general statements, but to clearly show exactly what new result was obtained within the project and how it differs from already existing research and solutions.

What is the difference between scientific novelty and relevance?

Relevance and scientific novelty — are interrelated but different characteristics of a study. Relevance explains why the chosen problem is important to study right now, while scientific novelty shows what new contribution the author offers in studying it.

In other words, relevance answers the question "Why is this topic important?", while novelty answers "What new has been done in this study?".

Comparison table: the difference between novelty and relevance

In brief:

Relevance is the substantiation of the need for the study, while scientific novelty is the characteristic of the new result obtained in the course of the study.

What are the requirements for scientific novelty?

Scientific novelty must show the author's specific contribution to studying the chosen problem. For the novelty to be well-founded, it must meet several basic requirements:

• Specificity — it is necessary to clearly indicate exactly what new thing was obtained or developed.
• Substantiation — the claim of novelty must be confirmed by the results of the study carried out.
• Connection with the aim and objectives of the work — elements of novelty must directly correspond to the stated aim and the objectives being solved.
• Difference from existing results — it is important to show how the proposed approach, method or result differs from those already known.
• Evidential support — novelty should not be based solely on the author's assertion; it must be confirmed by a literature review, experiments, calculations or other research results.
• Scientific significance — the result obtained must expand, refine or supplement existing scientific understanding.
• Practical applicability — if the novelty is of a practical nature, it is desirable to show where and how the result obtained can be used.
• Clarity of wording — one should not use overly general phrases like "the study is new". It is necessary to specifically indicate what has been done for the first time, improved, refined or developed.

Thus, the main requirement for scientific novelty is to prove that the study contains a result that supplements already existing knowledge and differs from previously proposed solutions.

What types of scientific novelty are there?

Scientific novelty can manifest itself in various forms depending on exactly what new result was obtained in the study. The main types can be divided as follows:

1. Theoretical novelty — obtaining new knowledge, regularities, principles or theoretical propositions.
   For example: a new interrelation between the phenomena under study has been identified.
2. Methodological novelty — developing a new method, procedure, algorithm or way of researching, or improving an existing one.
   For example: an improved procedure for assessing an indicator has been proposed.
3. Practical novelty — creating a specific solution that can be applied in practice.
   For example: recommendations, a program, a model or a practical algorithm have been developed.
4. Empirical novelty — obtaining new factual data as a result of observations, experiments, surveys or analysis of materials.
   For example: new data on the characteristics of the object under study have been obtained.
5. Applied novelty — applying known scientific propositions in a new field or for solving a practical problem not previously considered.
   For example: an existing method has been adapted for use in another sphere.
6. Classificational novelty — developing a new classification, systematisation, or refining an existing system of characteristics.
   For example: a new classification of the objects under study has been proposed.
7. Organisational novelty — consists in developing new forms, or improving existing forms, of organising activity, processes and interaction between participants. It can be expressed in proposing new ways of managing, distributing responsibilities, coordinating work, making managerial decisions and organising work processes.

Thus, scientific novelty can be expressed not only in the creation of fundamentally new knowledge, but also in the improvement, refinement, systematisation or new application of already existing scientific propositions.

The main forms in which scientific novelty manifests itself

The scientific novelty of a study can be expressed in various forms:

• discovery — obtaining new facts, phenomena, properties or regularities that had not previously been established;
• refinement — making more specific and more precisely defining already known scientific propositions, concepts or regularities;
• supplementation — expanding existing knowledge with new information, facts or propositions;
• development — further improvement and deepening of existing scientific understanding;
• improvement — enhancing existing models, methods, technologies, procedures or algorithms;
• systematisation — combining and organising the existing knowledge, approaches or results;
• new interpretation — considering known results from a different point of view or identifying a new meaning in already existing data;
• new application — using a known method, model or technology to solve a new problem or in another field.

Handy clichés for scientific novelty

When formulating scientific novelty, it is convenient to use ready-made speech constructions. They help to clearly show exactly what new thing has been done in the study.

If the result has been obtained for the first time:

• "For the first time developed…"
• "For the first time proposed…"
• "For the first time substantiated…"
• "For the first time identified…"
• "For the first time established…"
• "For the first time determined…"
• "For the first time carried out…"

If an existing approach has been improved:

• "The procedure has been improved…"
• "The approach to… has been improved"
• "An improved algorithm has been developed…"
• "The model has been modified…"
• "The existing procedure has been supplemented…"
• "The process has been optimised…"

If the result refines or makes known propositions more specific:

• "The concept of… has been refined"
• "The propositions… have been made more specific"
• "The classification has been refined…"
• "… have been systematised"
• "Existing approaches have been generalised…"
• "The features of… have been determined"

If an already existing scientific direction is being developed:

• "The understanding of… has received further development"
• "Theoretical propositions concerning… have been developed"
• "Existing ideas about… have been supplemented"
• "Scientific-methodological approaches to… have been developed"
• "Ideas about… have been expanded"

For practical and organisational novelty:

• "Practical recommendations for… have been developed"
• "A new way of organising… has been proposed"
• "An algorithm has been developed…"
• "A model has been proposed…"
• "A system has been developed…"
• "A mechanism has been proposed…"
• "The procedure has been improved…"
• "A new form of organisation has been developed…"
• "A managerial solution has been proposed…"

Universal formula:

"The scientific novelty of the study consists in the fact that, for the first time / it has been improved / refined / developed…"

The main thing — after the cliché, be sure to state the specific result, rather than simply writing "the study is new".

How to prove scientific novelty?

To prove scientific novelty, it is not enough simply to state that the study is new. It is necessary to compare the results obtained with already existing scientific approaches and show the author's specific contribution.

The following algorithm can be used to substantiate novelty:

1. Study existing research on the chosen topic and determine what solutions are already known.
2. Identify shortcomings or unresolved issues in existing approaches.
3. Formulate your own result — exactly what was developed, refined, improved or proposed.
4. Compare your result with analogues, showing its differences and advantages.
5. Confirm the result with evidence: experimental data, calculations, analysis results, modelling, approbation or other materials.
6. Formulate a specific statement of novelty, avoiding general phrases.

Example:
If existing procedures allow an indicator to be assessed using only three parameters, and the study proposes a procedure that takes five parameters into account and proves its effectiveness, the scientific novelty may consist in improving the procedure by expanding the system of parameters taken into account.

How is scientific novelty assessed?

Scientific novelty is assessed by how much the results obtained differ from those already known and what contribution they make to the development of scientific knowledge.

The following criteria are usually taken into account in the assessment:

Thus, good scientific novelty must be specific, proven, and different from already existing results.

PRACTICAL COMPONENT: FORMULATING THE TOPIC, AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

Aims of the assignment:

• - acquire skills in formulating the topic, aim and objectives of scientific research in their logical interrelation;
• - learn to describe the anticipated scientific results of the research work.

Supplementary material
As an example of the formulation of the topic, aim, objectives and results of scientific research, let us give a fragment of an extended abstract (avtoreferat) for the degree of Candidate of Economic Sciences [59].

Topic: "Strategic management of enterprise development"
Aim and objectives of the study. The aim of the dissertation work consists in generalising and refining theoretical propositions concerning the transition of industrial enterprises to strategic management, and in developing methodological support for forming strategic potential.
To achieve the stated aim, the following objectives were addressed:

• - generalisation of existing theoretical propositions on the strategic management of an enterprise;
• - refinement of the essence and role of an enterprise's strategic potential under conditions of the formation of market relations;
• - identification of the main contradictions in carrying out the process of strategic management under present-day conditions;
• - substantiation of the advisability of purposefully forming an enterprise's strategic potential;
• - determination of the state of the management systems operating at enterprises;
• - proposal of means for assessing the existing potential of an enterprise's management system;
• - development of a methodological approach to forming an enterprise's strategic potential.

Object and subject of the study. The process of managerial activity in developing and implementing the strategy of industrial enterprises was chosen as the object of the study. The subject of the study is the scientific-methodological support for managing the strategic development of an enterprise and forming its potential under conditions of the reform of Ukraine's economy.
The scientific novelty of the results obtained consists in the following:

• - the concepts of "strategic management" and "an enterprise's strategic potential", which underlie the development of the concept of the enterprise's long-term development, have been refined;
• - the sequence for forming a strategic management system has been substantiated, based on ensuring the timely attainment of a sufficient level of managerial potential;
• - a methodological approach to forming an enterprise's strategic potential has been improved through the balanced build-up of production and managerial resources;
• - for the first time, a concept of strategic management has been proposed, aimed at the mutual coordination of the components of this process and the resolution of the main contradictions arising in its implementation;
• - the process approach to determining the potential of the existing management system has received further development, which makes it possible to substantiate the priority directions for its fuller use and proportional build-up.

Assignment

Complete the following assignments on the topic of your own research work:
1. Based on a study of the literature, identify the applied and scientific problems that exist within the research topic under study. Substantiate the relevance of the topic.
2. Determine the object and subject of the study.
3. Formulate the aim of the study.
4. Make the title of the research topic more specific.
5. Carry out a structuring and analysis of the subject area.
6. List the anticipated scientific results.
7. Substantiate the practical significance of the work, and indicate the organisations and persons that might be interested.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. What is scientific research?
2. Which studies are classified as fundamental and which as applied?
3. List the stages of scientific research.

4. What is the difference between an applied problem and a scientific problem?
5. How are the object and subject of a study related to one another?
6. What information is recorded in the working plan of scientific research?
7. Name the main requirements imposed on the results of scientific research.
8. Give examples of scientific results from the field of economics.

CONCLUSIONS. Having studied Chapter 3, you have learned the following:

• What transforms research activity into scientific research? The obtaining of new, reliable knowledge about the subject area under study.
• How should research activity be properly organised? The logical sequence of the stages of scientific research must be observed.
• What is a scientific result? It is a product of scientific research that satisfies the requirements of reliability, novelty and usefulness.
• How can the reliability, novelty and usefulness of a result be confirmed? It must be substantiated, published and implemented.