Idiographic & Nomothetic Approaches

• What does the idiographic approach focus on in research?

  Individual cases to understand behavior
• Why does the idiographic approach suggest studying individuals?

  To obtain detailed information for better understanding
• How many participants are typically involved in idiographic research?

  Small, often a single case study
• What type of research is most idiographic research?

  Qualitative
• Which psychological approaches are mostly associated with the idiographic approach?

  Humanistic and Psychodynamic approaches
• Is objectiveness possible in the idiographic approach?

  No, objectiveness is not possible
• What does the nomothetic approach aim to study?

  General principles and universal laws
• What does the nomothetic approach suggest about psychology?

  It should study large groups for generalizations
• What type of research is associated with the nomothetic approach?

  Quantitative research
• Which psychological approaches are mostly associated with the nomothetic approach?

  Behaviourist and Biological approaches
• Is objectivity a characteristic of the nomothetic approach?

  Yes, it is objective
• What are the scientific credibility aspects of the nomothetic approach?

  • Similar processes to natural sciences
  • Establishes objectivity through standardization
  • Uses statistical testing for validity
• How do idiographic researchers seek objectivity?

  • Use triangulation
  • Compare findings from different qualitative methods
  • Increase validity of their research
• How do the idiographic and nomothetic approaches contribute to psychology?

  They raise psychology's status as a science
• How does the idiographic approach complement the nomothetic approach?

  • Uses qualitative methods for investigation
  • Sheds light on general laws
  • Challenges existing generalizations
• What insights can cases like HM provide?

  Important insights about normal functioning
• What is a limitation of the idiographic approach regarding generalizations?

  Generalizations cannot be made without more examples
• Why are idiographic methods considered less scientific?

  Conclusions rely on subjective interpretation
• What is a criticism of the nomothetic approach?

  • Preoccupation with general laws
  • Accused of losing the whole person
  • May fail to relate to subjective experiences
• How does the nomothetic approach relate to understanding schizophrenia?

  It provides little insight into personal experiences
• What is the implication of the nomothetic approach's search for generalities?

  It may fail to relate to individual experiences
• What is a strength for both the Idiographic & Nomothetic approach?

  Scientific Credibility

  • The processes involved in nomothetic research are similar to those used in the natural sciences, such as establishing objectivity  through standardisation and statistical testing
  • However, idiographic researchers also seek to objectify their methods, for example, triangulation is used whereby findings from a range of studies using various qualitative methods are compared as a way of increasing their validity
  • This suggests that both approaches raise psychology’s status as a science
• What is a strength for the Idiographic approach?

  Complete Account

  • The idiographic approach uses qualitative methods of investigation and may compliment the nomothetic approach by shedding further light on general laws on challenging them
  • Cases like HM may reveal important insights about normal functioning which may contribute to our overall understanding
  • This suggests that even though the focus is on fewer individuals, the idiographic approach may still help form ‘scientific’ laws of behaviour
• What is a limitation for the Idiographic approach?

  Subjective

  • Supporters of the idiographic approach should still acknowledge the narrow and restricted nature of their work
  • Generalisations can not be made without further examples, as there is no adequate baseline with which to compare behaviour, and methods associated with the idiographic approach tend to be the least scientific, as conclusions rely on subjective interpretation
  • This suggests that it is difficult to build effective general theories of human behaviour in the complete absence of nomothetic research
• What is a limitation for the Nomothetic approach?

  Losing the Person

  • The fact that the nomothetic approach is preoccupied with general laws, prediction and control means it has been accused of ‘losing the whole person’
  • For example, knowing there is a 1% lifetime risk of developing schizophrenia tells us little of what life is like for a schizophrenic, and understanding the subjective experience of schizophrenia may prove useful when devising treatment options
  • This means, in its search for generalities, the nomothetic approach may sometimes fail to relate to ‘experience’