Idiographic and Nomothetic Approaches

Question 1

Idiographic Approach aim:

Answer 1

• The idiographic approach in psych aims to describe the nature of the INDIVIDUAL
• Ppl are studied as UNIQUE ENTITIES, each with their own SUBJECTIVE experiences, motivations and values
• In this approach, there is no attempt made to compare these to a larger group, standard or norm

Question 2

Idiographic approach methods:

Answer 2

• Idiographic methods are associated with QUALITIVE data research methods, e.g. case studies, unstructured interviews and other self-report measures.
• Methods used in idiographic research are done to describe the richness of human experience and gain insight into the person’s unique way of viewing the world.
• They do not use methods which gain numerical data.

Question 3

Two examples of idiographic approaches in psych:

Answer 3

• Humanistic psychology
• Psychodynamic approach

Question 4

Humanistic psychology researchers:

Answer 4

Rogers and Maslow

Question 5

Humanistic psychology:

Answer 5

ROGERS & MASLOW: interested in documenting the CONSCIOUS EXPERIENCE of the INDIVIDUAL or self.
- More concerned with investigating the unique experience ‘on its own merits’ rather than producing general laws of behaviour.
- Not interested in applying any such laws to individuals and take an actively anti-scientific position in doing so.
- They used methods like case studies and qualitative self report measures to understand unique experiences.

Question 6

Psychodynamic approach researcher:

Answer 6

Freud

Question 7

Psychodynamic approach:

Answer 7

FREUD: use of case study method when detailing the lives of his patients. While mostly idiographic, Freud also assumed he had identified universal laws of behaviour and personality development

Question 8

Nomothetic Approach aim:

Answer 8

• The main aim of NA is to produce GENERAL LAWS OF HUMAN BEHAVIOUR
• These provide a ‘benchmark’ against which people can be compared to, classified by and measured through, and on the basis on which likely future behaviour can be predicted/ controlled

Question 9

Nomothetic Approach methods:

Answer 9

• The NA uses ‘scientific’ research methods within psych such as experiments
• Methods involve operationalisation of variables and quantitative data and statistical analysis to work out the CENTRAL TENDENCY OF BEHAVIOUR.
• These involve the study of a larger sample of people in order to establish ways in which people are similar.

Question 10

Two examples of nomothetic approaches in psych:

Answer 10

• behaviourist approach
• biological psychologists

Question 11

Behaviourist approach researchers:

Answer 11

Skinner and the behaviourists

Question 12

Behaviourist approach:

Answer 12

SKINNER and the behaviourists: studied the responses of hundreds of different animals in order to develop the laws of learning. These laws (e.g positive reinforcement) were then applied to human beings.

Question 13

Biological psychologists:

Answer 13

Conduct brain scans on countless human brains in order to make generalisations about localisation of function. In each of these cases, hypotheses are rigorously tested, statistically analysed, and general laws and principles are proposed and developed- all of which are key features of the nomothetic approach.

Question 14

Four evals:

Answer 14

+ of idiographic: provides in-depth data
- of idiographic methods: case studies tend to be less scientific
- of nomothetic approach: coming up with general laws tends to lose the whole person
+ of nomothetic: scientific-> practical applications

Question 15

A strength of idiographic methods: provides in-depth data and helps us learn from individual cases.

Answer 15

E.g. idiographic case studies like Clive Wearing provide a better and in-depth understanding of memory functioning.
However, nomothetic methods rule out one-off cases that do not fit the norm as Anomalies - miss research opportunities which might provide rare evidence to learn from and possibly disprove existing theories. Whereas, idiographic methods study such cases believing they can provide valuable insight. Thus, IA’s willingness to study individuals as unique and meaningful entities, lends to them valuable conclusions.

Question 16

A weakness of idiographic methods is that despite being in depth, methods like case studies tend to be less scientific.

Answer 16

Psych today is driven to have findings that have external validity, e.g. population validity. The IA’s insistence of not having generalisable findings is not in line with scientific direction psych is taking. IA uses methods like case studies, the researchers may work closely with the subject. Researcher may become biased and subjective in their interpretation of subject’s behaviour. As this reduces objectivity of results, makes case studies less scientific.

Question 17

A weakness of nomothetic approach: focuses too much on ‘general laws’ and tends to lose the ‘whole person’s’ experience within an investigation.

Answer 17

E.g. NA informs us of general laws like statistical prevalence of schizophrenia is 1% lifetime development risk. This gives us limited understanding of what life is actually like for someone suffering from schizophrenia. Thus, in searching for generalities within beh, nomothetic approaches lose the ability to appreciate the richness of human behaviour. Therefore, nomothetic approaches tend to provide an incomplete explanation.

Question 18

A strength of nomothetic approach: scientific in nature and this leads to practical applications.

Answer 18

Nomothetic methods involve quantitative methods- objective, e.g statistical analysis-> objective conclusions, e.g the idea that a typical IQ is around 100. Such objective conclusions can have practical applications. Knowing what is typical behaviour also informs us of what is objectively atypical behaviour. This allows for objective diagnostic criteria, e.g. the idea that an IQ of around 70 is indicative of IDD (intellectual deficit disorder). Thus such approaches increase in scientific credibility and utility.