Idiographic and Nomothetic Approaches

• What the debate is about


  (AO1)

  • Debate over which position is preferable for psychology

  1.Detailed study of 1 individual or small group of people to provide in depth understanding (idiographic)

  2. Study of larger groups to discover universal principles and norms of behaviors (nomothetic)
• Idiographic approach


  (AO1)

  • Research focuses on single individual or small group of people

  • Aims to understand behavior of individual in depth rather than make generalisations

  • Gathers qualitative data using Unstructured interviews and thematic analysis

  • These are subjective ways of collecting data
• Idiographic approach example


  (AO1)

  • Freud: explanation of phobia was based on a case study of Little Hans over many years

  • Rogers theory on the role of unconditional positive regard on self development based on an in depth study of a few of his clients
• Nomothetic approach


  (AO1)

  • General principles of behavior developed

  • These are then generalised to wider population

  Uses quantitative research:

  • Quantitative research involves a hypothesis is formulated, samples being gathered and data analysed for statistical significance

  • Uses standarisides methods, allows replications, removes any bias
• Nomothetic approach example


  Skinner studied rats to develop general laws on learning: he concluded that we all learn through positive and negative reinforcement
• ✅ Idiographic approach contributes to the nomothetic approach


  (AO3)

  • Idiographic approach provides in depth description on individual cases

  • Can be used to provides a deep insight into the general laws formed by nomothetic research

  • Eg case study on HM provides a detail insight on the already existing general laws of normal brain functioning

  • Both approaches complement each other

  • Or idiographic findings can generate hypothesis for development of new general laws that can be developed using nomothetic research

  • Together they work to form in depth scientific laws of behavior ❌COUNTERARGUMENT: idiographic methods are subjective and open to biased interpretations eg case studies
• ✅ Both fit within the aims of science


  (AO1)

  • Nomothetic research seeks objectivity through standardisation, control, operationalisation and statistical testing

  • Idiographic approach seeks objectivity through triangulation (compare range of studies) and reflexivity (examine effect of own bias on research)

  • Both approaches have scientific credibility
• ❌ With the nomothetic approach individual experience is lost


  (AO3)

  • Preoccupied with the general laws and control

  • the “whole person” is lost

  • Eg knowing there is a 1% risk of developing schizophrenia tells us nothing about what life is like for someone w schizophrenia

  • Understanding subjective experience is more useful when developing treatments