11. ISSUES & DEBATES (IDIOGRAPHIC & NOMOTHETIC DEBATE) Flashcards
What is the central question in the Idiographic vs. Nomothetic debate?
The debate questions whether it is better to study individuals as unique entities (idiographic) or examine groups of people to identify general laws (nomothetic).
What does the idiographic approach focus on?
The idiographic approach focuses on individuals, emphasizing the unique personal experience of human beings, often through qualitative methods like case studies or unstructured interviews.
What is an example of idiographic research?
Case studies are a key example of idiographic research, where an in-depth examination of an individual’s unique experiences is used to explore behaviour. For example, the case of patient KF in memory research.
What is a key criticism of the idiographic approach?
A key criticism is that case studies and other idiographic methods are not generalizable to the broader population due to their focus on unique individuals, making them difficult to apply universally.
What is the nomothetic approach in psychology?
The nomothetic approach aims to establish general laws or principles of behaviour by studying large groups of people, seeking to identify patterns or similarities across a population.
What is an example of nomothetic research?
An example is Ainsworth’s strange situation study on attachment, where large groups of children were classified into attachment styles (secure, insecure-resistant, insecure-avoidant).
What research methods are typically associated with the nomothetic approach?
Nomothetic research often involves quantitative methods like experiments, correlational research, and psychometric testing to establish laws or generalizable data.
How does the idiographic approach apply to the study of memory?
The idiographic approach is exemplified by the case study of patient KF, who showed a unique pattern of short-term memory impairment, challenging the multi-store model of memory.
How does the nomothetic approach apply to the study of attachment?
The nomothetic approach is applied through Ainsworth’s strange situation, where large groups of children were classified into attachment types to establish general laws about infant attachment.
How does the nomothetic approach explain psychological disorders?
The nomothetic approach explains disorders like OCD through biological factors, such as neurotransmitter imbalances, and uses drug therapies (e.g., SSRIs) to treat these conditions.
What is a strength of the nomothetic approach?
A strength is that it provides precise and scientific explanations based on large-scale studies and standardised procedures, which can be replicated to examine the reliability of findings.
What is a limitation of the nomothetic approach?
A limitation is that it may overlook individual experiences and the complexity of human behaviour, as it focuses on general laws rather than understanding the person as a whole. For example, knowing the statistical risk of schizophrenia doesn’t address the individual experience.
What is a strength of the idiographic approach?
The idiographic approach provides in-depth, qualitative insights into individual experiences, which can complement nomothetic findings and offer a fuller understanding of behaviour.
What is a limitation of the idiographic approach?
A limitation is that methods like case studies are prone to subjectivity and researcher bias, and findings cannot be easily generalized to the wider population, limiting their scientific rigour.
How does the idiographic approach apply to the study of addiction?
An idiographic approach to addiction, like CBT, focuses on the individual’s thought processes and experiences, tailoring treatment to the person rather than applying a one-size-fits-all method.
How does the nomothetic approach apply to the study of addiction?
The nomothetic approach explains addiction through biochemical causes (e.g., dopamine imbalance) and applies general treatments, such as drug therapies, that are based on large-scale research findings.
Why is it useful to combine both idiographic and nomothetic approaches?
Combining both approaches provides a comprehensive understanding of behaviour, with nomothetic methods offering general laws and idiographic methods offering depth and insight into individual differences.
What is a practical advantage of the nomothetic approach?
The nomothetic approach is highly useful for predicting and controlling behaviour, as it focuses on general laws and can be used to develop standardized treatments like drug therapies for conditions like OCD.
What is a criticism of using case studies in the idiographic approach?
Case studies are often criticized for lacking scientific rigour, as they can be subjective and are based on a single individual, limiting their ability to contribute to theory development.
Give an example of how idiographic and nomothetic approaches can complement each other.
The case study of patient HM provided valuable insights into memory processes, which can be used to refine general theories like the multi-store model of memory (nomothetic), showing how the two approaches can work together for a fuller understanding.
