idiographic and nomothetic approaches issues and debates

Question 1

what is the idiographic approach to psychological investigation

Answer 1

number of pps is small
some research include info from family friends or others but focus is on detail
does not mean generalisations are not made but intitial focus is about understanding the individual
qualitative
pps interviewd in depth and the focus may be on aparticular facet of human behaviour such as pps coped with their experience
data analysed and emergent themes identified
conclusions may help other poeple going through simialr experiences or more widely may help mental health professionals determine best practice
humanistic and psychodynamic approaches
rogers0 explain process of self development including role of unconditional positive regard
freud- careful observations of individuals were the basis of explanations of human nature little hans explain how phobia might develop

Question 2

what is the nomothetic approach to psychological investigation

Answer 2

generalisation to create laws of behaviour could be applied in individual sityations
closely fits traditional models of scientific method
hypotheses formulated samples of people are assessed in some way and numerical data produced is analysed for its statistical significance
seek to quantify human behaviour
behaviourist and biological approaches
skinner studied animals to develop genral laws of learning, looked at one aspect of behaviour in a few animals but the main aim was to establish general laws
sperrys split brain research involved repeated testing and was the basis for understanding hemispheric laterlisation

Question 3

what is objective versus subjective

Answer 3

objectivity-nomothetic, laws of behaviour only possible if methods of assessment delivered in standardised and objective way, ensures true replication occurs across samples of behaviour and removes the contaminiating influence of bias
subjectivity- idiographic, tend not to believe that objectivity in psychological research possible, peoples individual experience of their unique context that is important rather than some underlying reality out there that is waiting to be discovered

Question 4

what is complete account

Answer 4

contrubutes to nomothetic approach
uses in depth qualitative methods of invesitgation and this provides gloabl description of one individual
may complement nomothetic approach by shedding further light on general laws or by challenging such laws
single case may generate hypotheses for further study
cases like hm may reveal important insights about normal functioning which may contribute to our overall understanding
suggest even though focus is on fewer individuals idiographic may still help form scientific laws of behaviour

supporters of idiographic should acknowledge narrow and restricted nature of their work
generalisations cant be made without furture examples- no adequate baseline with which to compare behaviour
methods associated with the idiographic approach tend to be the least sceintific in that conclusions rely on the subjective interpretation of the researcher and are open to bias
suggests it is difficult to build effective general theories of human behaviour int he complete absence of nomothetic research

Question 5

what is scientific credibility

Answer 5

fit with aims of science
processes involved in nomothetic research similar to those used in natural sciences establishing objectivity through standardisation control and statistical testing
researchers using idiographic seek to objectify their methods
traingulation used wherby findings frm range of studies using different qualitiative methosd comapred as a way of increasing their valididt y
modern qualitative researchers careful to reflect on their own biases and preconceptions as part of the research process
suggests both nomothetic and idiogrpahic raise psychologs status as science

Question 6

what is losing the person

Answer 6

loss of understanding of the individual
fact that nomothetic approach preoccupied with genera; laws prediction and control means it has been accused of losing the whole person within psychology
knwoing there is 1% lifetime risk of developing schizophrenia tells us little about what life is like for someone who has been diagnosed with the disorder
understandong subjective experience of schizophrenia might well prove useful when it comes to devising appropriate treatment options for example
means nomothetic approach may sometimes fail to relate to experience