IDIOGRAPHIC

• WHAT IS THE IDIOGRAPHIC APPROACH?

  method of investigating behaviour that focuses on individuals rather than groups
• WHAT DOES THE IDIOGRAPHIC APPROACH USE?

  qualitative measures

  -> unstructured interviews, case studies
• WHAT APPROACHES ARE IDIOGRAPHIC?

  humanistic, psychodynamic (method of study)
• WHAT EXAMPLES OF RESEARCH ARE IDIOGRAPHIC?

  HM, KF, Little Albert
• STRENGTHS OF THE IDIOGRAPHIC APPROACH?

  • gain detailed and informative descriptions of behaviour
  • can uncover causes for behaviour not identified using more scientific methods
  • develop a holistic understanding of the individual
• WEAKNESSES OF THE IDIOGRAPHIC APPROACH?

  • cannot generalise to wider population
  • methods are subjective, flexible and unstandardised
  • replication, prediction and control of behaviour is difficult