nomothetic and idiogprahic Flashcards
idiographic
Focuses on unique individual cases, emphasizing qualitative, in-depth analysis
over generalization.
nomothetic
Seeks general laws through statistical analysis and large-scale studies.
general laws
A principle that explains broad patterns or behaviors across cases.
universal
Applies to all people, situations, or phenomena regardless of context.
case study
An in-depth investigation of a single person, group, or event.
objective
Based on facts and unbiased observation, independent of personal feelings.
subjective
Influenced by personal experiences, emotions, and individual perspectives.
key ideas of idographic
-qualitiative
-individual exp
-in depth
-interview
-case studies
-subjective persepctive
key ideas of nomothetic
-quantiative
-general laws
-patterns
-experiments
-surveys
-stats
-generalisable
idiogrpahic studies in pysch?
- rogers(humanstitic ) therpay and unconditonal positive reagrd
- sigmund freud (psychodynamic)little hands, observations
nomothetic apprs in psych
- beh and bio appr(establisg general laws)
- b.f skinner studied animals in operant conditoning
3.roger split brain repeated testing understanding hem laterlaisation
4.generalise beh into laws
why is nomo objective
-standirsed ways
- allows replicaiton
-removes infulence of bias
why is idio not objective
- peoples personal exp
-subjective
strenghths of idio
(complete account)
-can contirbute to nomo
-idiog= in depth qual info on individual
- completents nomo by shedding futher light on generalising
- e.g single case study can generlaise a hypo e.g HM case allows overall understanding
-forms ‘scitnetific laws’
(scientfic credibility)
- use triangualtion e.g various qualitiayive methods to comapre in order to increase valdiity
(use of reflexcivity)
- careful to reflect upon biases as part of reserach process reflexvivity
weaknesses of idio
(counterpoint complete account)
-researchers shld still acknowledge the narrow and restricted nature of their work
- meaninful generlsations cant be made without further exmaples cos theres no adequate baseline to comapre
-case stduies subjectuve so open to bias
strengths of nomo
(scientific credibility)
-use scientifc process e.g standardise and control, stats test
- establish general laws, and predciitons of beh
- increases psych status as a sceince similar to natural sciences
weaknesses of nomo
(losing the prsn)
- risk of lsoing sight of individual exp and unqiueness
-general laws (SX rates may not capture personal lived exp
- fail to relate to subjective exp e.g knowing there is 1% risk of getting SZ in lifeitme tells us little ab what the life is like for someone with SZ, but subjective exp is useful for treatment development
