idiographic/ nomothetic

What is the idiographic side of the debate?

A detailed qualitative study of one individual or small

group to provide an in depth understanding of a behaviour.

What is the nomothetic side of the debate?

A quantitative study of larger groups with the aim of discovering norms, universal principles or ‘laws’ of behaviour to be generalised to the population.

Evaluation of the idiographic approach/ strengths

An in-depth, qualitative method of investigation provides a complete account of an individual.

• It can also work well WITH a nomothetic approach; demonstrating the general laws (theories) and adding understanding and detail of experience, or can challenge them.

Evaluation of the idiographic approach: weaknesses

• Offers only a narrow and restricted view of behaviour (one person only?)

• No meaningful generalisations can/should be made without further validation.

• Relies on the subjective interpretation of the researcher – which adds bias in conclusions

Evaluation of the nomothetic approach: strengths

A more scientific approach is used – so data can be analysed quantitatively andtested under standardised empirical methods.

• Such processes have enabled psychologists to establish norms of ‘typical’ behaviour (such as average IQ of 100), giving Psychology greater scientific credibility.A more scientific approach is used – so data can be analysed quantitatively and tested under standardised empirical methods.

• Such processes have enabled psychologists to establish norms of ‘typical’ behaviour (such as average IQ of 100), giving Psychology greater scientific credibility.

Evaluation of the nomothetic approach: weaknesses

• Accused of ‘losing the whole person’. E.g. knowing that there is a 1% risk of developing Schizophrenia, tells us very little about what life is like for someone who is suffering from the disorder. The approach overlooks the richness of human experience

• In laboratory experiments, participants are treated as a series of scores/results rather than individual people, and their subjective experience of the situation is completely ignored.

Interactionist stance

however, as there are strengths and weaknesses of both sides of the debate, a more valid approach would be to take an interactionist stance

• E.g. Memory Models (e.g. MSM – A general law with laboratory experiment support, underpinned by case study evidence from KF and Clive Wearing. A model with scientific features, and insight into living with memory damage).

• Any theories that do not take an interactionist approach can be seen as of limited use in explaining a behaviour