I and D: idiographic and nomothetic approaches

Question 1

AO1: nomothetic approach

Answer 1

> aims to produce general laws of human behaviour
gives benchmark for people to be compared, classified and measured so future behaviour can be predicted

Question 2

what methods and data does the nomothetic approach use

Answer 2

> methods like experiments are used as they have large samples and c and e relationship
relies on quantitative data

Question 3

AO1: idiographic approach

Answer 3

> describes the nature of the individual
studies individuals experience and sees people as unique entities
doesn’t compare people to larger groups

Question 4

what methods and data does the idiographic approach use

Answer 4

> case studies
unstructured interviews
self-report techniques with open-ended qs
relies on qualitative data

Question 5

difference between idiographic and nomothetic approaches

Answer 5

nomothetic is objective:
laws of behaviour can only be established if research occurs in a standardised objective way
this removes bias and makes research reliable

idiographic is subjective:
believes objectivity is impossible
thinks studying individual experience in unique contexts is important
rather than an underlying reality waiting to be discovered

Question 6

AO3: case for idiographic

Answer 6

provides detailed qualitative methods of investigation
able to develop complete accounts of the individual
eg: KF challenged idea that there is only one store for STM
suggests it helps form scientific laws while focusing on individuals

Question 7

AO3: case against idiographic

Answer 7

narrow and restricted approach
eg: Freud’s work on oedipus complex came from little hans who was unique > research can’t be generalised
also case studies are subjective and rely on interpretation of researcher so can be biased
therefore hard to build general laws of behaviour without nomothetic approach

Question 8

AO3: case for nomothetic

Answer 8

allow general laws to be established
studies groups off ppts to create laws
eg: OCD is due to low serotonin
able to establish treatment like SSRI’s

Question 9

AO3: case against nomothetic

Answer 9

criticised for overlooking richness of human experience
eg: knowing theres a 1% of getting SZ doesn’t tell us what it’s like to live with it
focusing on laws means you lose the whole person
studying subjective experience of SZ can be helpful with treatment
therefore sometimes nomothetic may fail to explain experience of individuals