LS7 - Idiographic & Nomothetic Approach Flashcards
Idiographic Approach
Focuses on the individual and emphasises the unique personal experience of human nature, meaning they focus on qualitative data that provides rich detail. It doesn’t form laws or generalise results.
Example Of Idiographic Approach
KF who forgot auditory information more than visual after a motorbike accident provide the STM is made up of multiple components.
Idiographic (+)
In-depth Data
Case Studies
Idiographic (-)
Unable To Produce Laws
Time Consuming
In-Depth Data (+)
Uses qualitative methods, providing complete detail on someone, that can support other research e.g. KF
Case Studies (+)
Powerful to evaluate psychological theories e.g. KF. Case studies can generate further research into unique phenomen that might not’ve been able to be tested any other way.
Unable To Produce Laws (-)
It focuses on scientific application which makes it even worse that it can’t be generalised.
Time Consuming (-)
Case studies and other qualitative methods are time consuming and subjective to the interpretation of the researcher.
Nomothetic Approach
Focuses on establishing general laws, by studying large groups using quantitative methods.
Nomothetic Approach (+)
Considered Scientific
Can Be Used For Predictions
Considered Scientific (+)
Quantitative methods, controlled measurements and it’s easier to predict behaviour. Controlled measurement also improves reliability.
Can Be Used For Predictions (+)
It can be used for predicting other behaviours due to the fact that it can be generalised but also contribute to other sectors of psychology e.g. drug therapy.
Nomothetic Approach (-)
Generalisation Isn’t Always Appropriate
Fixated On Quantitative Data
Only Predict Group Responses
Generalisation Isn’t Always Appropriate (-)
Drug therapy doesn’t work for some but works for others, the idiographic approach however seeks to understand disorders from the patients point of view and would therefore use cognitive methods to solve issues.
Fixated On Quantitative Data (-)
Quantitative data focuses on people themselves. A lot of the time it fails to provide detailed reasoning for different patterns (failing to identify cause and effect).
