Idiographic vs Nomothetic Flashcards
What does idiographic mean?
Private or personal
What 2 research methods take an idiographic approach?
Case study, unstructured interview
Why is most idiographic research qualitative?
What do we do with qualitative research
This is because it is based on firsthand experiences. Data is analysed and then theories are formulated.
Explain how Rogers used the idiographic approach during his client centred therapy.
Rogers sought to explain the role of unconditional positive regard by studying the individual experience of clients
How did Freud use the idiographic approach to explain the role of the Oedipus complex in developing phobias?
Freud tried to explain the role of the Oedipus complex in developing phobias using the case study of Little Hans.
What does nomothetic mean?
The study of behaviours through general theories or principles.
Why does the nomothetic approach use quantitative data?
The approach focuses on scientific, mathematical theories that can be statistically analysed.
Explain how the nomothetic approach is seen in behaviourism.
Uses animal studies to form general laws of learning, such as through conditioning.
Explain the strength of the nomothetic approach being scientific.
How is the use of quantitative data scientific?
How has this helped psychology to be established as a science?
On the other hand, why is the idiographic approach less scientific (what type of data does it focus on?)
This approach uses quantitative methods and controlled experiments to gather data. This is important because controlled methods allow psychologists to replicate research and examine the reliability of findings, which has helped psychology to establish itself as a scientific discipline. On the other hand, the idiographic approach is less scientific because it focuses on qualitative data, which is more subjective than objective data produced by the nomothetic approach.
Explain the strength of the nomothetic approach being applicable to treatments.
What is the theory behind the cause of OCD?
What have scientists developed to treat OCD?
How does this benefit OCD sufferers?
This is because the approach is scientific and based off general theories. For example, biological psychologists take a nomothetic approach when explaining OCD and claim that OCD is caused by low serotonin levels. Drug therapies are developed on the basis of nomothetic research and work by addressing a biological imbalance. This matters because SSRIs are used to treat OCD and increase the availability of serotonin. This reduces anxiety in OCD sufferers, improving their lives.
Explain the strength of the idiographic approach using case studies.
Use the example of KF and how models of short term memory have changed as a result.
For example, the case of patient KF exposed a limitation of the MSM by providing evidence for more than one STM store. Originally, it was believed that the MSM consisted of the sensory register, STM and LTM. When digits were read verbally to KF, he struggled to recall them. However, when he read to himself, his recall was fine. Despite only studying one unique person, this has changed our entire perception of the MSM, demonstrating how case studies can lead to entire new psychological investigations.
Explain the limitation of there being a false distinction between the idiographic and nomothetic approach.
How might an interactionist approach make the idiographic/nomothetic debate meaningless?
Holt argues that the idiographic and nomothetic distinction is false, as many approaches take advantage of both. For example, cognitive psychologists take a nomothetic approach to formulate laws about models of memory, but also take an idiographic approach through case studies to adapt laws formulated (such as KF). Therefore, it could be argued that the distinction between idiographic and nomothetic is meaningless as both are equally valuable.
