Properties and quantitative characteristics of random functions. Fundamentals of Mathematical Experiment Design

Doctor of Psychology, Professor, Honored Worker of the Higher School of the Russian Federation.

Gennady Vladimirovich Sukhodolsky was born on March 3, 1934 in Leningrad into a family of native Petersburgers. Wandering with his parental family, evacuated from St. Petersburg during the difficult years of the blockade, led to the fact that G.V. Sukhodolsky belatedly began his studies in secondary school, after graduating from school he served in the army. GV Sukhodolskiy became a student of Leningrad State University, being a completely mature person with rich life experience. Perhaps it was the adult attitude towards professional activity from the very beginning that determined further outstanding successes.

The entire professional life of G.V. Sukhodolsky took place within the walls of the Leningrad - St. Petersburg University: from the time he graduated from the psychology department of the Faculty of Philosophy of Leningrad State University in 1962 until the last days of his life. He passed the way from a laboratory assistant in the first laboratory of industrial psychology in the USSR, where he worked under the direct supervision of the founder of engineering psychology, academician B. F. Lomov, to the head of the department of ergonomics and engineering psychology.

Professor G. V. Sukhodolskiy became one of the leading specialists in Russia in the field of labor psychology, engineering psychology and mathematical psychology, he had vast experience in scientific, applied and pedagogical activities. The monographs and textbooks written by him make it possible to rightfully call him one of the founders of the Leningrad, then St. Petersburg school of engineering psychology.

G. V. Sukhodolskiy did a great deal of pedagogical work: he developed original general courses "Application of mathematical methods in psychology", "Mathematical psychology", "Engineering psychology", "Experimental psychology", "Higher mathematics, measurements in psychology", as well as special courses "Structural and algorithmic analysis and synthesis of activities", "Psychological service at the enterprise", "Engineering and psychological examination of road traffic accidents."

Participated in the organization and conduct of all all-Union conferences on engineering psychology in the period from 1964 to 1990. He was vice-president of the International Conference on Ergonomics (L., 1993), organizer and permanent leader of a scientific and practical seminar on the psychological service of enterprises (Sevastopol, 1988-1992).

From 1974 to 1996, G.V. Sukhodolsky was the chairman of the methodological commission of the Faculty of Psychology, whose work contributed to the improvement of the training of psychologists. During two official terms, he chaired the specialized Scientific Council for the defense of dissertations in engineering psychology and labor psychology. Dozens of theses, 15 candidate's and one doctoral dissertation were defended under the guidance of G.V.Sukhodolskiy.

G.V. Sukhodolskiy, having acquired a wealth of experience in private research of various types of professional activity (tracking systems, navigation, heavy industry, timber rafting, nuclear energy, etc.), developed the concept of activity as an open system that assimilates and generates mental and non-mental products, based on a systemic synthesis of humanitarian and natural science approaches in psychology. He proved the need for a plurality of theoretical concepts of complex psychological (and other) objects and developed a methodology for multi-portraying such objects in empirical research and mutual mathematical and psychological interpretation in psychological theory and practice.

Practical application of the concept developed by G.V. Sukhodolsky in the field of vocational training: creation of models of variable stochastic algorithms and algorithmic structures of activity, including algorithms for hazardous (emergency) actions that need to be taught to improve labor safety; development of methods for investigating the actions of operating personnel at consoles and posts for various purposes, including at the control room of the NPP; development of a method for optimal layout and ergonomic examination of panels and consoles; creation of psychological methods for the examination of road traffic accidents. For many years GV Sukhodolskiy was a member of the expert council on the problem of the human factor at the Ministry of Medium Machine Building of the USSR.

GV Sukhodolskiy has been dealing with problems of mathematical psychology for many years. Among the original methods developed by him are: the method of multidimensional labeled stochastic matrices for pores of complex objects; a method for visualizing finite-dimensional objects in the form of a profile in parallel coordinates; method of using multisets, generalization operations, mixed multiplication and division of multisets and data matrices; a new method for assessing the significance of correlation coefficients using the Snedecor-Fisher F-criterion and the significance of similarity - the differences in correlation matrices according to the Cochran G-criterion; method of normalization of distributions through the integral function.

Scientific developments of G.V. Sukhodolskiy in the field of psychology of professional activity find their application and continuation in solving two most important problems of modern labor psychology and engineering psychology. The first task is to continue the development of the theory of professional activity, methods of its description and analysis. This is a key direction in modern applied psychology as well, since the methodology, theory and tools for describing and analyzing activities are the basis for the development of all other areas of organizational psychology and solving applied problems: psychological support of business process reengineering, performance management, job specification, organization of group work. etc. The works of G. V. Sukhodolskiy in this direction are continued by S. A. Manichev (competence modeling of professional activity) and P. K. Vlasov (psychological aspects of designing organizations). The second task is to further develop the traditions of the activity approach in the context of modern cognitive ergonomics (design and assessment of interfaces based on the study of human activity), as well as knowledge engineering. Usability, a scientific and applied discipline that studies the effectiveness, productivity and ease of use of activity tools, is gaining particular relevance and development prospects. The concept of analysis and synthesis of algorithmic structures of GV Sukhodolskiy's activity has clear prospects to retain its significance in ensuring the ergonomic quality of interfaces. The multi-portraiting methodology is used by V.N. Andreev (author of developments on interface optimization, currently working in Vancouver, Canada) and A.V. Morozov (ergonomic assessment of interfaces).

In the last years of his life, despite a serious illness, Gennady Vladimirovich continued his active scientific work, wrote books, supervised graduate students. Gennady Vladimirovich was awarded the St. Petersburg State University prizes for pedagogical excellence, for a series of monographs on the application of mathematical methods in psychology. In 1999 he was awarded the title "Honored Worker of the Higher School of the Russian Federation", in 2003 - "Honorary Professor of St. Petersburg State University." The merits of G.V. Sukhodolsky were widely recognized. He was elected a Fellow of the New York Academy of Sciences.

He penned over 250 publications, including five monographs and four textbooks and teaching aids.

Main publications

• Fundamentals of Mathematical Statistics for Psychologists. L., 1972 (2nd ed. - 1998).
• Structural-algorithmic analysis and synthesis of activities. L., 1976.
• Foundations of the psychological theory of activity. L., 1988.
• Mathematical and psychological models of activity. SPb., 1994.
• Mathematical psychology. SPb., 1997.
• Introduction to the mathematical and psychological theory of activity. SPb., 1998.

The entire professional life of G.V. Sukhodolsky passed within the walls of the Leningrad-St. Gennady Vladimirovich Sukhodolsky was born on March 3, 1934 in Leningrad into a family of native Petersburgers. Wandering with his parental family, evacuated from St. Petersburg during the difficult years of the blockade, led to the fact that G.V. Sukhodolsky belatedly began his studies in secondary school, after graduating from school he served in the army. GV Sukhodolskiy became a student of Leningrad State University, being a completely mature person with rich life experience. Perhaps it was the adult attitude towards professional activity from the very beginning that determined further outstanding successes.
The entire professional life of G.V. Sukhodolsky passed within the walls of the Leningrad-St. Petersburg University: from the time he graduated from the psychology department of the Philosophy Faculty of Leningrad State University in 1962 until the last days of his life. He passed the way from a laboratory assistant in the first laboratory of industrial psychology in the USSR, where he worked under the direct supervision of the founder of engineering psychology, academician B. F. Lomov, to the head of the department of ergonomics and engineering psychology.
Professor G. V. Sukhodolskiy became one of the leading specialists in Russia in the field of labor psychology, engineering psychology and mathematical psychology, he had vast experience in scientific, applied and pedagogical activities. The monographs and textbooks written by him make it possible to rightfully call him one of the founders of the Leningrad, then St. Petersburg school of engineering psychology.
G. V. Sukhodolskiy did a great deal of pedagogical work: he developed original general courses "Application of mathematical methods in psychology", "Mathematical psychology", "Engineering psychology", "Experimental psychology", "Higher mathematics, measurements in psychology", as well as special courses "Structural and algorithmic analysis and synthesis of activities", "Psychological service at the enterprise", "Engineering and psychological examination of road traffic accidents."
Took part in organizing and conducting in the period from 1964 to 1990 all all-Union conferences on engineering psychology. He was vice-president of the International Conference on Ergonomics (L., 1993), organizer and permanent leader of the scientific and practical seminar on the psychological service of enterprises (Sevastopol, 1988-1992).
From 1974 to 1996, G.V. Sukhodolskiy was the chairman of the methodological commission of the Faculty of Psychology, whose work contributed to the improvement of the training of psychologists. During two official terms, he chaired the specialized Scientific Council for the defense of dissertations in engineering psychology and labor psychology.
Dozens of theses, 15 candidate's and 1 doctoral dissertation were defended under the guidance of G.V.Sukhodolskiy.
G.V. Sukhodolskiy, having gained rich experience in private research of various types of professional activity (tracking systems, navigation, heavy industry, timber rafting, nuclear power, etc.), developed the concept of activity as an open system that assimilates and generates mental and non-mental products, based on a systemic synthesis of humanitarian and natural science approaches in psychology. He proved the need for a plurality of theoretical concepts of complex psychological (and other) objects and developed a methodology for multi-portraying such objects in empirical research and mutual mathematical and psychological interpretation in psychological theory and practice.
Practical application of the concept developed by G.V. Sukhodolsky in the field of vocational training: creation of models of variable stochastic algorithms and algorithmic structures of activity, including algorithms for hazardous (emergency) actions that need to be taught to improve labor safety; development of methods for investigating the actions of operating personnel at consoles and posts for various purposes, including at the control room of the NPP; development of a method for optimal layout and ergonomic examination of panels and consoles; creation of psychological methods for the examination of road traffic accidents. Long years

Over the past 20 years, this book is not only not outdated, but has acquired new relevance. Because over the past period, no new generalizing monographs on the psychology of activity have appeared, and Russian modernity and the prospects for development in the context of globalization require the psychological study and design of new systems of human-technical activities from schooling to production management, international marketing and political life.

I am grateful to the URSS publishing house for the opportunity to republish this book of mine and hope for interest in it from potential consumers of scientific knowledge.

G.V. Sukhodolsky,
St. Petersburg
16.07.07

In Soviet psychology, the so-called "activity" approach has developed, according to which the human psyche is formed and studied in activity and through the means of activity. On the basis of the methodological principle of the unity of consciousness and activity, the conceptual apparatus and methods of psychology are created, theoretical and practical developments are being carried out in psychological branches, as a result of which the activity approach is also developing.

The main direction of this development is associated with the transition from explaining the human psyche by his activity to the psychological study and design of the activity itself as mediated by the mental, as well as social and biological properties of acting people, i.e. "human factor". The leading role here belongs to engineering psychology.

Engineering psychology is a branch of psychology that studies the relationship between man and technology in order to achieve high efficiency, quality and humanity of modern labor, by designing it on the basis of the psychological principles of designing technology, working conditions, professional training and on the basis of engineering principles of taking into account the human factor in man. -technical systems.

A new technical reconstruction of production based on computerization and robotization, the creation of flexible production systems, introduces significant changes in the existing forms of professional activity. The main functions of a specialist in production are increasingly programming the operation of machines, their management and control. Labor activity in production, in management and management, and as the computerization at school and educational activities are increasingly approaching the basic features of the operator's activities. In this regard, engineering psychology becomes a direct productive force and, being organically linked with psychological science as a whole, takes over the entire complex system of interrelationships between psychology and other sciences and production.

Despite certain achievements, the design of activities remains one of the central problems of engineering psychology and psychology in general, since the experience of the psychological description of activities has not yet been generalized and there are no reliable means of psychological assessment, optimization and design of both old and, especially, new types of activity. ... For this reason, the problem of activity is recognized as one of the most important problems for theoretical and practical development. In particular, it is required to create such a psychological theory of human labor activity, which would equip practical workers with a clear knowledge of the psychological mechanisms of this activity, the patterns of its development and methods of using the results of psychological research to solve practical problems; it is necessary to create a psychological theory of joint activity, revealing its complex structure and dynamics, ways of its optimization.

It is believed that the psychological theory of activity, which serves as a methodological basis for all psychological disciplines, is one of the most important achievements of Soviet psychology. However, in this theory there is a lack of clarity and ambiguity in the interpretation of the basic terms, the conceptual layer of the concept synthesized on the previous one and the additional apparatus is insufficiently generalized, poorly systematized and not brought together. Most general and special psychological concepts reflect the desire to limit the study of activity to narrow psychological laws of the functioning of the psyche. At the same time, the actual professional, material and technical, technological and other non-psychological aspects of activities, from which the psyche of the "working person" is artificially torn off, remain outside the study. Because of this striving in general psychology, the subject of study is trying to be reduced to a kind of "mental", "meaningful experiences" or "orienting activity." In social psychology, they are mainly limited to interpersonal relationships and phenomena based on them. In labor psychology, professiograms are largely reduced to psychograms, and psychograms - to lists of professionally important properties or qualities that are not very specific for a particular activity. For the same reason, in engineering psychology, interactions between people and machines are reduced mainly to information interactions, which is also a certain result of cybernetic reductionism. In psychological, the study of activity is almost universally limited to its analysis, although this contradicts not only dialectics in general, but also concrete psychological methodology, the practical use of the results.

Thus, on the one hand, urgent state tasks have been set, in the solution of which psychology as a whole should participate as a science, and on the other hand, this participation is hindered by the shortcomings of psychological views on activity - the shortcomings are so significant that it is permissible to speak of the absence of a psychological theory of activity. ... Without at least the foundations (or beginnings) of such a theory, it is obviously impossible to correctly solve the required problems.

It seems that the above considerations sufficiently substantiate the relevance of the goals that we pursue and to which the content of the book, the logic and nature of the presentation are subordinated.

First of all, it is necessary to understand the existing psychological and other views on activity, to identify, generalize, clarify and systematize the conceptual apparatus of the psychology of activity. This is the focus of the first section of the book, which defines the "key" concepts; the conceptual apparatus existing in the psychology of activity is revealed and systematized; the existing systemic concepts of activity are critically analyzed and evaluated.

In the second section of the book, first the prerequisites and the theoretical scheme of generalized psychological material are consistently presented, and then conceptual structures reflecting the structure, the need-value sphere, development and functioning, being and cognition of activities.

In the conclusion, the results are summed up and some prospects for the development of the psychology of activity are outlined.

I consider it my duty to express my gratitude to my teachers, staff and students for their kind attitude, support and help.

Honored Worker of the Higher School of the Russian Federation. Doctor of Psychology, Professor of the Department of Ergonomics and Engineering Psychology, St. Petersburg State University.

The range of scientific interests is general, engineering, mathematical psychology. Published 280 scientific works, including several monographs: "Foundations of Mathematical Statistics for Psychologists" (1972, 1996); "Mathematical Psychology" (1997); "Introduction to the mathematical and psychological theory of activity" (1998); "Mathematics for the Humanities" (2007).