Idiographic and nomothetic approaches Flashcards
what is the idiographic approach
considers the individual in research - its irrelevant to try and develop universal laws of behaviour because it is unique to the individual
what type of experiment is use in the idiographic approach
case studies - document the unique perspective of a person and their behaviour
what type of research methods is used in the idiographic approach
qualitative - interviews allow for opinion, attitude and self reflection
what is the nomothetic approach
establishing laws of behaviour that can be applied across a population but studying groups and generalising findings wider
what type of research method is used in the nomothetic approach
quantitative methods - easier to compare
what type of experiment is used in the nomothetic approach
lab experiments - carefully controlled variables
what are the three types of laws for the nomothetic approach
- classification
- establishing principles
- establishing dimensions
what is the classification law in the nomothetic approach
people classified based on characteristics, attitudes or behaviours
what is the establishing principles law in the nomothetic approach
the focus on trying the establish laws and principles to be applied to all human behaviour
what is the establishing dimensions law in the nomothetic approach
the attempt to document continuums (scales) for which individuals can be placed to then be compared
is the biological approach idiographic or nomothetic and why
nomothetic - everyone has same genes and we share physiology and biochemistry
is the SLT approach idiographic or nomothetic and why
nomothetic - we have shared learning processes for behaviour
is the cognitive approach idiographic or nomothetic and why
nomothetic - scientific study, recognises people have different thoughts but the processes underlying it are generalised
is the psychodynamic approach idiographic or nomothetic and why
mostly idiographic - unique childhood experience but generalised innate drives
is the humanistic approach idiographic or nomothetic and why
idiographic - self actualisation, uniqueness
what idiographic examples are there from memory
HM case study
what idiographic examples are there from attachment
czech twin study
what idiographic examples are there from gender
david reimer study
what idiographic examples are there from approaches
little hans
what idiographic examples are there from schizophrenia/addiction
CBT
what nomothetic examples are there from attachment
learning theory
what nomothetic examples are there from schizophrenia
drug treatments
what nomothetic examples are there from addiction
aversion therapy
what nomothetic examples are there from memory
WMM and MSM
