idiographic and nomothetic

what are the two approaches to research in psychology

Idiographic

Nomothetic

what is Idiographic approach

 A detailed qualitative study of one individual or small group to provide an in depth understanding of a behaviour.

what is nomothetic approach

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

What are the main factors of the nomothetic approuch

• Believe we are a species, and hence have enough similarities.

• Research large groups

• Use experimental methods

• Generate Quantitative data

• Analyse data statistically (based on hypotheses)

• Create statistical benchmarks to use as norms or comparisons.

• Create theories, models or general ‘laws’ to predict behaviours.

• Generalise these to the target population

main factors of idiographic approuch

• Believe in the uniqueness of individuals.

• Research individuals or small groups

• Use case study, interview and self report methods

• Generate qualitative data

• Identify emergent themes

• Create detailed, insightful and in depth understanding of the behaviours studied.

• Focus is on understanding an individual, but generalisations can be made with caution.

case study for nomothetic approach

e.g. Skinner’s research on animals to develop the general laws of learning.

Sperry’s split-brain research involved repeated testing. 

case study for idiographic approach

E.g. the case study of Clive Wearing

         Case study of KF

Strengths of an Idiographic Stance

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. 

Weaknesses of an Idiographic Stance

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.

Strengths of a nomothetic approach

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.

Weaknesses of a nomothetic approach

• 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.

why is the interaction stance a more valid approach than idiographic and nomothetic

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.

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