Nadezhda A. Nestereva

The development of research skills in primary school students is a task that requires a comprehensive approach and involves creating favorable pedagogical conditions. An important aspect of establishing such conditions is the use of the pedagogical potential of ethnocultural traditions, which enriches the educational process, making it more diverse and engaging for children. The aim of this study was to examine the pedagogical conditions for developing research skills in primary school students through the pedagogical potential of ethnocultural traditions, which serve as a rich source of knowledge, skills, and values. In the course of the research, the following tasks were addressed: identifying and describing the pedagogical conditions that facilitate the effective development of research skills in primary school students; determining the means of the pedagogical potential of ethnocultural traditions for the development of research skills; and conducting an experimental study to assess the effectiveness of applying ethnocultural traditions to the educational process. Based on an analysis of psychological and pedagogical literature, the identified pedagogical conditions contributing to the development of research skills in primary school students laid the groundwork for organizing and conducting experimental work. The research methods included M.V. Matyukhina’s test “Study of the Motivational Sphere of Primary School Students for Research Activity” and the methodology for assessing the practical readiness of these students for research activities worked out by N.N. Sandalova. The latter methodology represents a comprehensive approach aimed at determining the level of research skills development in primary school students. During the experiment, innovative techniques that integrate ethnocultural traditions into the educational process were developed and tested. The results of the study showed that the use of the pedagogical potential of ethnocultural traditions helped to increase motivation for research activities, developed creative potential, and fostered the development of research skills in primary school students. The theoretical significance of the study lies in defining pedagogical conditions in the context of ethnocultural traditions. Its practical significance stems from the fact that the proposed methods of integrating ethnocultural traditions can be implemented in the educational process to enhance its effectiveness.