Issues and debates: Idiographic and Nomothetic approach
Idiographic:
An approach to research that focuses on more on
individual cases as a way of understanding behaviour
rather than for the formation of universal
explanations. This approach does not compare one
person’s explanation to another and instead value it
as subjective insight.
Type of research: Mostly qualitative, based on individual or small group accounts (case studies).
Favour self report methods with limited influence on answers e.g. unstructured interviews. Often
focus on a specific human behaviour such as 'coping with depression'. Such data is then analysed
and emerging themes are identified (thematic analysis). This upcoming data can assist professionals
in that field e.g. mental health doctor with clients.
Example in Psychology: Humanistic Psychology with Maslow and Rogers, who take an approach to
the individual cases of conscious experience. Psychodynamic approach studies individuals and
unique lives in regards to the unconscious, e.g. case study little Hans. (Psychodynamic is also
nomothetic for its general laws regarding the way personality develops).
Nomothetic:
An approach which focuses on generalisation in order to
create laws and general principles of behaviour.
Type of research: Quantitative, fits traditional scientific
methods, Hypotheses are formulated, samples are assessed
in some way and numerical data is analysed for its statistical
significance in order to quantify behaviour.
Example in Psychology: The behaviourist and biological approach are nomothetic, e.g. Skinner
studied animals to develop the general laws of learning, even though his sample only included
animals and was limited, these laws are used universally to explain reinforcement behaviour.
Similarly, biological psychology may use a small sample to generalise such as Sperry’s hemispheric
lateralisation sample from the split brain research.
OBJECTIVITY VS S UBJECTIVITY
The Nomothetic approach is objective: Generalizable laws only possible if methods are delivered in
a standardised way. Insures true replication and reduces bias.
The Idiographic approach is subjective: Believe individual experience and unique context is most
important.
Idiographic:
An approach to research that focuses on more on
individual cases as a way of understanding behaviour
rather than for the formation of universal
explanations. This approach does not compare one
person’s explanation to another and instead value it
as subjective insight.
Type of research: Mostly qualitative, based on individual or small group accounts (case studies).
Favour self report methods with limited influence on answers e.g. unstructured interviews. Often
focus on a specific human behaviour such as 'coping with depression'. Such data is then analysed
and emerging themes are identified (thematic analysis). This upcoming data can assist professionals
in that field e.g. mental health doctor with clients.
Example in Psychology: Humanistic Psychology with Maslow and Rogers, who take an approach to
the individual cases of conscious experience. Psychodynamic approach studies individuals and
unique lives in regards to the unconscious, e.g. case study little Hans. (Psychodynamic is also
nomothetic for its general laws regarding the way personality develops).
Nomothetic:
An approach which focuses on generalisation in order to
create laws and general principles of behaviour.
Type of research: Quantitative, fits traditional scientific
methods, Hypotheses are formulated, samples are assessed
in some way and numerical data is analysed for its statistical
significance in order to quantify behaviour.
Example in Psychology: The behaviourist and biological approach are nomothetic, e.g. Skinner
studied animals to develop the general laws of learning, even though his sample only included
animals and was limited, these laws are used universally to explain reinforcement behaviour.
Similarly, biological psychology may use a small sample to generalise such as Sperry’s hemispheric
lateralisation sample from the split brain research.
OBJECTIVITY VS S UBJECTIVITY
The Nomothetic approach is objective: Generalizable laws only possible if methods are delivered in
a standardised way. Insures true replication and reduces bias.
The Idiographic approach is subjective: Believe individual experience and unique context is most
important.
