Idiographic approach
An approach to research that focuses more on the individual case as a means of
understanding behaviour, rather than aiming to formulate general laws of behaviour
Nomothetic approach
Aims to study human behaviour through the development of general principles and
universal laws
The idiographic-nomothetic debate
Centred on two opposing approaches
Two approaches may overlap and both may have their place within a scientific study
of a person
Key concepts of the debate
The idiographic approach to psychological investigation
Number of participants in idiographic research is small, often a single case
Some research may contain information from family, friends and other but the focus
is on detail
Doesn’t mean generalisations are not made - but initial focus is about understanding
the individual
Qualitative research
Most idiographic research is qualitative
For instance, research on depression would be based on first-hand accounts from a
small number of people (case study)
Participants would be interviewed in depth and focus is on a particular behaviour,
such as how participants coped with their experience (using a fairly unstructured
interview)
Data is analysed and emergent themes are identified
Conclusions may help other people going through similar experiences, or more
widely, help mental health professionals determine best practice
Examples in psychology
Idiographic approach is most associated with the humanistic and psychodynamic
approaches
For example, Rogers sought to explain the process of self development including the
role unconditional positive regard
This was derived from in depth conversations with clients in therapy
Freud’s careful observations of individuals were the basis of explanations of human
nature, eg Little Hans was used to explain how a phobia might develop
The nomothetic approach to psychological investigation
Main aim of the nomothetic approach is generalisation in order to create “laws” ie
create general principles of behaviour (theories) which then could be applied to
individual situations such as drug therapy
An approach to research that focuses more on the individual case as a means of
understanding behaviour, rather than aiming to formulate general laws of behaviour
Nomothetic approach
Aims to study human behaviour through the development of general principles and
universal laws
The idiographic-nomothetic debate
Centred on two opposing approaches
Two approaches may overlap and both may have their place within a scientific study
of a person
Key concepts of the debate
The idiographic approach to psychological investigation
Number of participants in idiographic research is small, often a single case
Some research may contain information from family, friends and other but the focus
is on detail
Doesn’t mean generalisations are not made - but initial focus is about understanding
the individual
Qualitative research
Most idiographic research is qualitative
For instance, research on depression would be based on first-hand accounts from a
small number of people (case study)
Participants would be interviewed in depth and focus is on a particular behaviour,
such as how participants coped with their experience (using a fairly unstructured
interview)
Data is analysed and emergent themes are identified
Conclusions may help other people going through similar experiences, or more
widely, help mental health professionals determine best practice
Examples in psychology
Idiographic approach is most associated with the humanistic and psychodynamic
approaches
For example, Rogers sought to explain the process of self development including the
role unconditional positive regard
This was derived from in depth conversations with clients in therapy
Freud’s careful observations of individuals were the basis of explanations of human
nature, eg Little Hans was used to explain how a phobia might develop
The nomothetic approach to psychological investigation
Main aim of the nomothetic approach is generalisation in order to create “laws” ie
create general principles of behaviour (theories) which then could be applied to
individual situations such as drug therapy
