11. Idiographic And Nomothetic Approaches AO1 Flashcards
What is the idiographic approach?
The study of unique experience
What does the idiographic approach aim to do
Describe the nature of the individual
How are people studied in the idiographic approach
As unique entities with their own subjective experiences, motivations and values - no attempt to compare these to a larger group standard or norm
What is the idiographic approach associated with?
Methods in psychology that produce qualitative data (case studies)
What is one of the central aims of idiographic research
To describe the richness of human experience and gain insight into the persons unique way of viewing the world
What does the idiographic approach include?
Humanistic psychology and the psychodynamic approach
Explain how humanistic psychology links to the idiographic approach
Rogers and Maslow were interested in,y in documenting the conscious experience of the individual or self rather than productions central laws of behaviour
Explain how the psychodynamic approach links to the idiographic approach
Freud’s use of the case study method - also assumed he had identifies universal laws of behaviour and personality development
What is the nomothetic approach?
The production of general laws
What is the main aim of the nomothetic approach
To produce general laws of behaviour that provide a benchmark against which people can be compared, classified and measured
What can be done through the nomothetic approach
Future behaviour can then be predicted and controlled
What is the nomothetic approach associated with?
Questionnaires and psychological tests - methods defined as reliable and scientific within psychology
What does the nomothetic approach involve in the study
The study of larger numbers of people to establish how people are similar (or differ)
What does the nomothetic approach include?
Behaviourist, cognitive and biological research
What does the nomothetic approach look at?
Findings from large numbers of people which are analysed for statistical significance
