Idiographic and Nomothetic Approach
The Idiographic approach to psychological investigation
Research is small, often a single case. Some research may be from friends or family but mostly concentrated on individual.Does not make generalisations but initial focus is on individuals.
qualitative research
most research is qualitative. Example most researchers would be based on first had accounts from small number of people.
Interviewed in depth and focus may be on particular facet of human behaviour, unstructured interview
will help people going through similar experiences and help professionals determine best practices
examples in psychology
associated with the humanistic approach and psychodynamic. For example carl rogers explained the process of self development including the role of unconditional positive regard. this was obtained from in depth conversations with clients in therapy. sigmund freud careful of observations of individuals of basis of explanations of human nature for example little hans and how phobias are developed.
The nomothetic approach to psychological investigation
in order to create 'laws' i,e create general principles of behaviours which then could be applied in individual situations
quantitative research
fits scientific method. hypotheses are formulated, samples of people are assessed in some way and the numerical data produced is analysed for its statistical significant
examples in psychology
Behaviourist and biological approach are nomothetic. For example Skinner studied animals to develop the general laws of learning . His research looked at an aspect of behaviour in animals and establish general laws . Same with biological approach, Roger Sperry's split brain research which repeatedly testing and was the basic understanding of hemispheric lateralisation
Objective versus subjective
difference between ideographic and nomothetic is how each relates to subjectivity and objectivity
objectively lies in nomothetic approach as laws of behaviours our only possible of methods of assessment are delivered in a standersided and objective way. this ensures true replications and no influence of bias
researchers in idiographic approach tend to believe in that objectivity in psychological research as its individual peoples experiences of there unique content
Evaluation
Complete account
Strength of the idiographic approach is that it contributes to the nomothetic approach
complement the nomothetic approach as shredding further light on general laws
single case may generate hypothesis for further study
however methods asscoaited wiht idogrpahiuc aproach such as case studies, tends to be least scientific and that of conclusions tend to rely on subjective interpretations of the researcher and are open to bias
scientific credibility
both approaches fit with the aims of science
nomothetic research is similar to those in natural science, for example establishing objectivity through standersation, control and statistical testing
researchers using the idiographic approach also seek objectify methods. For exapnle triangulation is used whereby findings from a range of studies using differetn qualatatuve methods are compared as a way to increase their validity
suggest both approaches raise psychology status as a science
losing the poerson
limitaion of the nomethetic aproavh is the loss of understadning the individual.
for exapmple knowing that there is 1% lifetime risk of develeping schizophrenia tells us nothing about what life is like being diagnosed weiht the disordfer
might became useless when trying to find treatments