Idiographic vs. Nomothetic

Question 1

what is this debate about?

Answer 1

• terms refer to the way of researching or approaching behaviour
• all about which methods are more appropriate and why

Question 2

idiographic approach

Answer 2

• focuses on individuals or small groups
• emphasises unique and diff experiences
• favours qualitative research methods which allows in-depth insight into individual behaviour e.g. siffre cave study
• doesn’t seek to formulate laws or generalise

Question 3

Nomothetic approach

Answer 3

• concerned with establishing general laws based on study of large groups e.g. Skinner rats
• favours quantitative techniques to analyse data
• aims to find similarities in people

Question 4

what research methods apply to idiographic approach?

Answer 4

• unstructured interviews
• case studies
• thematic analysis

Question 5

what research methods apply to Nomothetic approach?

Answer 5

• experiments and controlled observations
• correlations
• psychometric testing

Question 6

idiographic PEELs

Answer 6

❌CRITICISED FOR BEING UNSCIENTIFIC
- Little Hans using idiographic but claims to be generalisable
- emphasis on in-depth data collection contradicts the central purpose of mature science
✅ STILL USEFUL IN PSYCH
- KF exposed limitation to the MSM led to WMM and types of ltm
- improves our understanding

Question 7

Nomothetic PEELS

Answer 7

✅ CONTRIBUTES TO SCIENTIFIC NATURE OF PSYCH
- Ainsworth used scientific method led to attachment types
- led to development of theories based on att. such as effect on future relationships
✅ USEFUL APPLICATIONS
- findings of dopamine hypothesis led to anti-psychotic drugs
- further understanding, treat patients