idiographic and nomothetic

Question 1

what is the idiographic approach?

Answer 1

Method of investigating behaviour that focuses on INDIVIDUALS rather than a group.

Emphasises UNIQUE nature of individuals using SUBJECTIVE human EXPERIENCE to do so.

Usually in form of a CASE study.

As a result findings are NOT often GENERALISED to form laws.

Question 2

what type of research is used in idiographic research?``

Answer 2

QUALITATIVE. Research on depression would be based on first-hand accounts from a small number of people (case study) interviewed in depth

Question 3

what is the nomothetic approach?

Answer 3

when psychologists seek to ESTABLISH general laws based on the study of LARGE groups of people.

Question 4

what type of research is nomothetic research?

Answer 4

QUANTITATIVE. Research fits closely to traditional models of the scientific model in psych. Hypotheses are formulated, samples of people are assessed (questionnaires) and numerical data is produced and analysed for stat.

OBJ research.

Question 5

AO1: IDIO

HM case study, suffered severe epilepsy. in an attempt to treat his condition he underwent surgery that resulted in him losing his hippocampus part of the brain responsible for holding LTM.

Although findings obtained using idiographic approaches cannot be generalised they can be used to form a basis for theories.