Idiographic & Nomathetic

Question 1

Explain the two approaches

Answer 1

Debate over which is preferable in Psychology

• Detailed study of one individual or group provides in-depth understanding (idiographic) or
• Study of larger groups with the aim of discovering universal principles or ‘laws’ of behaviour (nomothetic)

Question 3

What are the key concepts of the debate

INEPO

Answer 3

Idiographic approach and qualitative research

Nomothetic approach and quant research

Both examples in Psychology

Objective versus subjective

Question 4

Tell me about Idiographic and qualitative research

Answer 4

When the number of participants is small, often a single indivudal or group. Initil fous o about understanding the individual but generalisations may be based on findings

Qualitative research useed.

Question 5

Examples in psychology idiographic

Answer 5

Humanistic approach - rogers concept of counselling was based on his work as a therapist. His ‘theory/ of the role of unconditional positive regard in self-development was based on his in-depth study of his clients
Freud’s explanation of a phobia was based on the detailed study of Little Hands over many years ago

Question 6

Nomothetic approach and quantitive research

Answer 6

General principles of behaviour are developed and are then applied to individual situations, such as in therapy

Quant research - hypotheses formulated, sample of people / animals gathered and dt analyse to test statistical significance then seek to quantify human behaviour (can make large scale laws/generalisations)

Question 7

Examples in Psychology

Answer 7

Skinner studied animals to develop general laws of learning

Sperry’s split brain research involved repeat testing and was in part the basis for understanding hemispheric lateralisation

Question 8

Objective versus subjective

Answer 8

The nomothetic approach seeks standardised methods of assessing people. This ensures true replication occurs across samples of behaviour and removes the contaminating influence of bias

Idiographic - tends to to believe that objectivity is possible in psychological research. It is people’s individual experience of their unique context that is important.

Question 9

What are two strengths and two limitations for the approaches

Answer 9

Strength: Idio and nomo approaches work together

Both fit with the aims of science

Weakness: in nomothetic the individual experience is lost

Idiographic on its own is restricted

Point about a continuum

Question 10

Tell me the strength of the idio and nomo approaches working together

Answer 10

The idiographic approach uses in-depth qualitative methods which compliments the nomothetic approach by providing detail

In depth case studies such as HM (damaged memory from removal of hippocampus and amygdala) may reveal insights about normal functioning which contribute to our overall understanding

This suggests that even though the focus in fewer individuals, the idiographic approach may help from ‘scientific’ laws of behaviour

Question 11

Say the counterpoint about the idio approach

Answer 11

The idio approach on its own is restricted as there is no baseline for comparison, also unscientific and subjective

this suggests that it is difficult to build effective general theories of human behaviour in the complete absence of the nomo approach

Question 12

Tell me about how both approaches fit with the aims of science

Answer 12

Nomo research seeks objectivity through standardisation, control and statistical testing.

Idio approach seeks objectivity through triangulation (comparing a range of studies and reflexivity (researchers examine own biases).

This suggests that both the nomo and idio approach raise psychology’s status as a science.

Question 13

Tell me the limitation of the nomothetic approach

Answer 13

One limitation is that the individual experience is lost

Nomathetic approach focuses on general laws and may ‘lose the whole person’ within psychology. For example, knowing about a 1% lifetime risk of schizophrenia says little about what it is like having the disorder, which might be useful for therapeutic ideas

this means in its search for general laws of behaviour, the nomo approach may sometimes fail to relate to experience.

Question 14

Evaluation: distinct or complimentary?

Answer 14

Each approach is distinct and appropriate for different situations. However, they may also be two ends of a continuum eh when diagnosing personality disorders, clinicians begin with general nomo criteria ten focus on individual unique needs.

This suggests that these approaches are both either/or, we can consider the same topic from both perspectives.