Idiographic & Nomothetic Approaches Flashcards
Idiographic Approach
Individuals are studied as unique entities, each with their own subjective experiences, motivations and values.
Associated with methods that produce qualitative data, such as case studies, unstructured interviews and other self report measures
Nomothetic Approach
Aim to produce general laws of human behaviour
Provides a ‘benchmark’ where people can be compared, classified and measured
Future behaviour can then be predicted and/or controlled.
Idiographic Examples
Humanistic Approach
Humanistic psychologists were more concerned with investigating unique experience ‘on its own merits’ than producing general laws of behaviour.
Psychodynamic Approach
Often labelled ‘idiographic’ because Freud’s use of the case study method when detailing the lives of his patients.
Nomothetic Examples
Behaviourist approach
Skinner studied the responses of hundreds of rats, cats, pigeons etc., in order to develop the laws of learning.
Biological approach
Biological psychologists have conducted brain scans in order to make generalisations about localisation of function.
A03 - Idiographic FOR
P: One strength of the idiographic approach is that it provides a global, whole account of the individual.
E: For example, a single case may generate hypothesis for further study such as in brain-damaged individuals, like HM, findings may reveal important insights about normal functioning which may contribute to our overall understanding.
E: This is a strength because it contributes to our overall understanding of issues, and complements the nomothetic approach by shedding further light on general laws, or indeed by challenging such laws.
L: As a result we can see that the use of idiographic approaches can be beneficial in understanding unique cases that cannot be understand on a bigger scale such as nomothetic approaches.
A03 - Idiographic AGAINST
P: One weakness of the idiographic approach is that it is a narrow and restricted view.
E: For example, Freud’s concept of the Oedipus complex was largely detailed from the study of a single case (Little Hans).
E: This is an issue because meaningful generalisations cannot be made without further examples, as there is no adequate baseline with which to compare behaviour. Also, methods associated with the idiographic approach, such as case studies, tend to be the least scientific in that conclusions often rely on the subjective interpretation of the researcher and are therefore open to bias.
L: Overall, the use of idiographic approaches can be seen to unreliable and low in validity because of the nature of examining unique cases.
A03 - Nomothetic FOR
P: One strength of the nomothetic approach is that it is a more scientific approach than idiographic.
E: For example, nomothetic approaches test under standardised conditions, using data sets that provide group averages, statistical analysis and use prediction and control.
E: This is a strength because such processes have enabled psychologists to establish norms of ‘typical’ behaviour (such as the average IQ of 100).
L: As a result this arguably gives the discipline of psychology greater scientific credibility.
A03 - Nomothetic AGAINST
P: One weakness of the nomothetic approach is that they have been accused of ‘losing the whole person’.
E: For example, knowing that there is 1% lifetime risk of developing schizophrenia tells us little about what life is like for someone who is suffering from the disorder.
E: This is a weakness because in its search for generalities, the nomothetic approach may sometimes overlook the richness of our human experience. For example, in lab studies involving tests of memory, PPs are treated as a series of scores rather than individual people with subjective experience of the situation (e.g. Jacobs Digit Span research).
L: As a result, it can be argued that nomothetic approaches lack external validity and do not accurately reflect real life and individuals.
