Idiographic and nomothetic Flashcards
AO1: define indiographic
The idiographic approach in psychology is a method of studying the individual as a unique case and respecting their subjective experiences.
AO1: what is the idiographic approach useful for
The idiographic approach is useful in generating new areas of research as data generated from case studies is detailed and extensive.
AO1: why is the idiographic approach not representative
Sample will not be representative because of the uniqueness of the traits the individual possesses
AO1: 2 methods the idiographic approach uses and why
To investigate the individual, the idiographic approach employs methods such as case studies, which allow for an in-depth examination of a person’s unique experiences, behaviours, and life circumstances.
The analysis of data collected through case studies involves qualitative methods, such as thematic analysis.
AO1: which psychologist used the idiographic approach and in what way
For example, the idiographic approach was used by Maslow to investigate self-actualization, where he focused on the experiences of two individuals who achieved self-actualization.
What are the 2 AO3s for idiographic
High detail (+) KF undertanding
Non-scientific (-) Little Hans subjective
High detail (+) KF undertanding
P: The use of the idiographic approach is praised for its extensive detail in explaining behaviour.
E: For example, the study of patient KF in a case study posed a challenge to Atkinson and Shiffrin’s (1968) multi-store memory model when it became evident that short-term memory did not function as a singular storage entity.
E: Consequently, psychologists were given a deeper insight into the workings of memory, with case studies such as this forcing the theoretical precision of memory models. As a result, psychologists can gain a richer understanding of human behaviour.
L: Therefore, with the use of idiographic methods, psychologists can more easily obtain in depth detail through refining theories into offering more adequate explanations.
AO3 – non-scientific (-)
P: Having said this, idiographic methods of investigation can be critiqued for being non-scientific.
E: For instance, cases like the ‘Little Hans’ experiment which followed an idiographic approach rely heavily on qualitative data gathered entirely by subjective means.
E: The methodology stems from unstructured information, allowing bias to occur. As a result, information gathered can be largely affected by researcher bias as it is heavily open to interpretation. This would largely threaten the internal validity of the research.
L: Therefore, it can be argued that the idiographic approach discredits Psychology as a science, making it a less favourable method of conducting data among for academic scientists.
AO1 - nomothetic aims to..
The nomothetic approach in psychology aims to establish laws and generalisations that apply to many people.
AO1: what methods are used in the nomothetic approach
It involves testing a large sample using experimental or correlational methods. It relies on quantitative analysis, employing statistical tests to derive general laws applicable to all individuals.
AO1- nomothetic idea on serotonin and depression
For instance, in the context of drug therapy for depression, this approach uses a general principle: reducing serotonin levels is the cause of depression, and this principle should apply universally, disregarding individual differences.
AO1: how does the nomothetic approach assume uniform information processing
Furthermore, the nomothetic approach assumes uniform information processing among people and categorises personalities without considering variations.
AO1: nomothetic approach in infancy
Even in infancy, this approach assumes uniformity, positing that all babies cry for the same reasons, leading to the creation of general laws without accounting for individual distinctions.
What are the 2 AO3s for nomothetic
AO3 – practical applications treatments (+) OCD
AO3 - Surface- level understanding (-) Milgram
AO3 – practical applications treatments (+) OCD
A merit of the nomothetic approach is that it can have practical application in the field of treatments. For instance, the establishment of nomothetic laws has led to the development of pharmaceutical drugs like SSRIs, which are employed in the treatment of conditions such as OCD. This tells us that nomothetic studies construct objective data that is easy to analyse. Since psychologists can identify cause and effect due to the scientific rigor of nomothetic research, psychologists are more likely to be able to predict and control behaviour. Through this, we can generalise and positively practically apply the findings to society as a whole.
