Methodological Principles of Information Materials Research in Forensic Psychology

The article addresses the basic methodological principles of psychological analysis of information materials applied during the forensic psychological examination of a new direction established in the system of forensic institutions of the Ministry of Justice of Russia in 2017. The foundation of the direction is the general methodology of forensic psychological examination, deeply elaborated by F.S. Safuanov. At the same time, the features of objects (information materials and communications included in social activities and human behavior that are subject to legal assessment and can be recognized as criminal) and the subject of research (forensically and legally significant features of information materials) determine the number of particular methodological principles, methods, and procedures for their application. These distinguish the study of information materials from the study of the mental activity of investigated persons (accused, victims, witnesses) during the legally significant period.The author notes a connection of psychological research of information materials with the general methodology of forensic psychological examination. At the same time, methodological features are determined due to the interdisciplinary connections of a new kind of forensic examination with other sciences and practical expert tasks. Next, the article describes the main methodological approaches of psychological research of information materials: system-structural, activity-based, phenomenological, and hermeneutic, as well as level, communicative, qualitative, and discursive analysis.