Ideographic vs Nomothetic debate

Question 1

Describe characteristics of the ideographic approach

Answer 1

Studies people individually

Provides sufficient detailed data

Unrepresentative as it’s unique to each person

Qualitative data used to analyse data e.g. thematic analysis

Uses methods e.g. unstructured interviews, case studies, open question questionnaires

Question 2

Give examples of an ideographic approach

Answer 2

Humanistic approach - Unique experience of each individual with data being gathered through qualitative methods (e.g. self report)

Psychodynamic approach - Little Hans case study used to gain info - suggested each person has unique childhood experiences

Question 3

Describe characteristics of the nomothetic approach

Answer 3

Large samples tested

Large data gathered to establish general laws/predict human behaviour

Sample representative of population

Quantitative data used to analyse data e.g. statistical tests

Uses methods e.g. experiments, closed questions, likert scales, correlational research, controlled observations

Question 4

Give examples of the nomothetic approach

Answer 4

Biological approach - Uses lab experiments to establish cause and effect. Allows treatment for mental disorders e.g. OCD/depression

Behaviourist approach - Generalises that behaviour is learnt through the environment (e.g classical and operant conditioning)

Question 5

Evaluate the ideographic vs nomothetic debate

Answer 5

Idiographic is useful for evaluating psychology theories - Patient KF study - could encode visually but not acoustically - refuted MSM - led to WMM

Nomothetic has strong fixation on quantitative data - Milgram found 65% went to 450v - doesn’t explore why

Nomothetic approach has real world application - drug therapies for OCD - counter - may not be useful for all people

Idiographic can be unscientific - e.g. Freud’s concepts of unconscious, psychosexual stages etc, lack falsifiability and objectivity