5. Nomothetic and idiographic

• Idiographic approach

  • Small number of pps - usually case studies
  • Focus on detail and understanding the individual
  • Qualitative research - pps interviewed in depth and includes open questions and unstructured interviews
  • Data is analysed and emergent themes identified
  • Conclusions may help people going through similar experiences
  • Humanistic and psychodynamic approaches favour this
• Nomothetic approach

  • Generalisation to create 'laws'
  • Quantitative research - closely fits traditional model of science in psychology, hypotheses formulated, samples of pps assessed
  • Structured questionnaires and numerical data is produced
  • Seek to quantify human behaviour
  • Behaviourist and biological approach favour this
• Objective vs. subjective

  • Nomothetic approach - favour objectivity where laws of behaviour are only possible if methods of assessment are delivered in a standardised way, this ensures true replication and removes any influence of bias
  • Idiographic approach - favour subjectivity as people's individual experience of their unique context is seen as important
• AO3 - Strength of the nomothetic approach having scientific basis

  • The use of experimental/quantitative methods as well as empirical testing are highly favoured as they result in high external validity
  • Example being Miller's study of STM which used standardisation procedures and a lab setting
  • Miller's law eventually created that STM has a limited capacity of around 7 items due to rigorous control
  • Also allows for replication including Milgram's obedience study being replicated in a French gameshow which validates original findings
  • Ensures all findings are objective increasing credibility
• AO3 - Limitation of the idiographic approach is that it cannot produce general laws or predictions about human behaviour

  • Psychodynamic approach study of Little Hans and concluded that a dream he had experienced about a horse collapsing meant that he had castration anxiety
  • Uniqueness of the case severely limits its usefulness as a source of practical knowledge
  • Deeper understanding is nearly impossible as results cannot be generalised to others
  • Leads to lack of diagnosis and treatments of psychological disorders
  • Not beneficial and lacks practical application
• AO3 - Limitation of nomothetic approach not considering the whole person

  • Fixation on quantitative data limits deeper understanding as numerical data has no meaning behind it
  • No real world application and data cannot be generalised
  • A case study method (idiographic approach) is a powerful tool for evaluating psychological theories
  • Can generate further research into particular phenomenons which contributes to the development of new theories that further the understanding of human behaviour