Idiographic vs Nomothetic Flashcards
Explain what is meant by a nomothetic approach to research.
Understanding behaviour through studying groups and using the results to create general laws.
These provide a benchmark against which people can be compared, classified and measured.
This then provides a basis for future behaviour being predicted and possibly controlled.
Give examples of Nomothetic research.
• Experimental research into memory
• Experimental research into biological causes of mental illness/criminal behaviour
• Experimental research into Obedience/Conformity
• Experimental research into classical and operant conditioning.
• Strange Situation research
Explain the argument in support of using idiographic research.
P - This provides a more complete and in depth account of the individual and their behaviour.
E.g – HM provided valuable insights into how memory works.
Ex – Therefore the findings from case studies may reveal insights into behaviour that wouldn’t be found through normal experimentation. And can be used to generate hypotheses that can be tested later experimentally.
Explain the argument against using idiographic research.
P - The idiographic method is seen as narrow and restricted.
E.g – Freud’s work was criticised as many of his theories were largely developed by single case studies.
Ex – This is an issue as meaningful generalisations can’t really be made on the basis of such limited evidence.
Explain the argument in support of using nomothetic research.
P - The nomothetic approach tends to be more scientific.
E.g – using standardised procedures, control of variables and experimentation of IQ testing or in memory studies.
Ex – This leads to high internal validity and the establishment of norms of behaviour which gives psychology more scientific credibility.
Explain the argument against using nomothetic research.
P - It is argued that the nomothetic approach loses the “whole person”.
E.g – Knowing the lifetime risk of Sz (1%) tells us little about the experience of the disorder for sufferers.
Ex – This is an issue because in searching for generalities it can overlook the richness of human experience.
Outline where the approaches sit on the idiographic vs nomothetic debate
Biological – Nomothetic
Behaviourist – Nomothetic
Cognitive – Elements of both
Humanism – Idiographic
Psychodynamic – Idiographic research, Nomothetic Theories
Social Learning Theory – Nomothetic
