PhD, Associate Professor A.I. Alifirov
Russian State Social University, Moscow

Corresponding author: anat.alifirov@yandex.ru

Abstract

Objective of the study was to analyze the national chess training / chess sport related dissertations to systematize the key content, priority subjects and research approaches of special contribution to and benefits for the modern chess sport science.

Methods and structure of the study. We completed a content analysis of the national chess sport / chess training related dissertations that cover a wide range chess training systems and chess training psychology and pedagogy issues for the period of 1946-2020. We classified the priority research topics by scientific branches in accordance with the valid classifier of the Higher Attestation Commission. We sampled for analysis 213 dissertations partially or fully analyzing different chess sport / chess training issues, including two Doctoral dissertations with fundamental research and problems solutions and 211 PhD dissertations focused on practical and specific chess training / chess sport issues. 

Result and Conclusion. Analysis of the national chess training / chess sport related dissertations made it possible to outline the key trends and priority subjects for research and the most efficient research approaches of special contribution to the modern chess sport science and chess training systems. Progress of the modern chess sport and chess training methods, models and tools is primarily due to the advanced new chess training technologies as demonstrated by the dissertations sampled for the study. The national research design and management approaches and cooperation of the chess sport / chess training researchers is facilitated by the established scientific schools, research teams and interests in multisided experimental studies.

Keywords: education, chess sport, dissertations, methodology.

Background. The chess training theory and methodology has transformed for the last three decades, with the chess training practices notably intensified; and at this juncture the sport communities report a strategic need for the accumulated chess training / chess sport knowledge and practices to be systematized, the practical research findings and content to be revised and abstracted to form logically designed and efficient chess sport / chess training databases and toolkits [2]. In may be beneficial in this context to have the chess sport / chess training related dissertations analyzed with a special interest in the genesis of chess training innovations and thinking, key ideas, conceptual approaches, and core research subjects to advance the theoretical and practical chess training methods, psychological and practical chess training innovations etc. for progress of the chess sport science. Efforts to analyze content of the chess study reports, to process and systematize the most promising research issues, including special literature reviews and analyses of the most popular and cited research materials/ fields may be of high interest for the modern chess sport science [1].

Objective of the study was to analyze the national chess training / chess sport related dissertations to systematize the key contents, priority subjects and research approaches of special contribution to and benefits for the modern chess sport science.

Methods and structure of the study. We completed a content analysis of the national chess sport / chess training related dissertations that cover a wide range chess training systems and chess training psychology and pedagogy issues for the period of 1946-2020. We classified the priority research topics by scientific branches in accordance with the valid classifier of the Higher Attestation Commission. We sampled for analysis 213 dissertations partially or fully analyzing different chess sport / chess training issues, including two Doctoral dissertations with fundamental research and problems solutions and 211 PhD dissertations focused on practical and specific chess training / chess sport issues. 

Result and discussion

Chess training research

The chess training related dissertations give a special priority to the theoretical and practical chess training service efficiency, new chess training models and tools, chess training service customization/ diversification issues etc., with more than 50% of the sample focused on these topics. Genesis and drivers of the growing chess training research for the last three decades (that has offered a wide range of new chess training concepts, views, models and tools spearheaded by the educational mission of chess sport) have been facilitated by the new chess training technologies and growing digitalization of the chess training systems on the whole.

About 40% of the sample analyzes general issues of the theoretical and practical chess training service with the cultural aspects in the context of general pedagogy, history of pedagogy and education to generate new ideas on how the cognitive reserves should be mobilized and universalized for intellectual progress in modern chess sport. Some studies underline benefits of modern chess training tools for correctional training of people with disabilities, to facilitate their mental/ physiological progress, rehabilitation and socializing agendas. Given in Table 1 hereunder is the content analysis of the sampled dissertations grouped by the valid Classifier of Pedagogical Sciences.

Table 1. Content analysis of the sampled dissertations grouped by the valid Classifier of Pedagogical Sciences

Our content analysis of the national chess sport / chess training related dissertations for the period of 1946-2020 with their classification by the valid Classifier of Pedagogical Sciences made it possible to outline the key chess training trends and ideas by the growing chess sport schools, and fundamentals of the chess training systems applied by the national chess sport elite. Fundamental research by V.V. Knyazeva with analysis of the chess training subject content and progress in the national general education school system; plus the M.A. Vershinin dissertation with the new theory of the chess-sport-developed logical thinking and its practical applications – are considered highly beneficial for the modern chess sport / chess training theory and practice. Studies by M.R. Kobaliy, A.V. Ryazantsev and V.A. Potkin spell out the key provisions for progress of the theoretical and practical training service to the chess sport elite. And the chess training research publications by A.N. Kostyev, I.G. Sukhin, B.A. Zlotnik have been recognized worldwide and are being widely applied nowadays within the advanced educational systems.

Chess training psychology research

Presently the chess sport community takes efforts to develop an integrated psychological test and service system with the relevant reflection and mental control elements to attain due sport-specific neural plasticity. Of special interest are the social and educational psychology research with the modern chess viewed as a sort of ecosystem that facilitates individual intellectual progresses in the thinking, attention control, memorizing, perceptive, analyzing and cognitive domains. About 30% of the sample analyzes the chess training / chess sport psychology related issues with the relevant personality development and acmeological aspects. Special attention is paid to the chess sport psycho-physiology to verify benefits of the special research for competitive success in the chess sport in the increasingly competitive environments with the growing pressure from the sport-specific mental stressors.

Fundamental research of mental activity by O.K. Tikhomirov; chess sport psychology study by N.V. Krogius with a generalizing analysis of the chess sport competitive psychology with its match control tools; the B.M. Blumenfeld’s dissertation with a new chess player’s psychology profiling method and analyses of reasoning and reflections – are representative of the modern trends in the chess sport psychology research. Given in Table 2 hereunder is the content analysis of the sampled dissertations grouped by the valid Classifier of Psychological Sciences.

Table 2. Content analysis of the sampled dissertations grouped by the valid Classifier of Psychological Sciences

Our content analysis of the national chess sport / chess training related dissertations for the period of 1946-2020 with their classification by the valid Classifier of Psychological Sciences gives understanding of the quantitative and qualitative mental health and competitive psychology/ environment testing methods, with implications for the chess training psychology and the theoretical and practical training service optimizing goals. Research by A.Y Gabbazova and E.N. Kuchumova analyzes the intellectual progress issues of the modern chess training systems and reflection as the key productive chess training method. Research publications by A.A. Bartashnikov and T.Y. Paramonova on the individual operational memory development issues with a psychological analysis as contributor to the strategic progress planning in modern chess sport have deepened and expanded our knowledge of the personality-sensitive neuropsychological test service models applicable in the chess sport.

Conclusion. Analysis of the national chess training / chess sport related dissertations made it possible to outline the key trends and priority subjects for research and the most efficient research approaches of special contribution to the modern chess sport science and chess training systems. Progress of the modern chess sport and chess training methods, models and tools is primarily due to the advanced new chess training technologies as demonstrated by the dissertations sampled for the study. The national research design and management approaches and cooperation of the chess sport / chess training researchers is facilitated by the established scientific schools, research teams and interests in multisided experimental studies.

References

1. Aranson M.V., Ovcharenko L.N., Ozolin E.S. et al Study of current trends in scientific research in elite sports. Vestnik sportivnoy nauki, 2016, no. 5, pp. 55-59.
2. Alifirov A.I., Mikhaylova I.V., Makhov A.S., Belov M.S. Introducing chess education in Russian school system: theoretical and practical aspects.  Teoriya i praktika fiz. kulturyi. 2018. no. 5, pp. 53-55.
3. Message from the President of the Russian Federation to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation dated 01/15/2020 [Official website] Available at: http://www.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62582 (date of access: 10.03.2021).