Idiographic & Nomothetic Approaches (OCR A-Level Psychology): Revision Notes
8.5 Idiographic & Nomothetic Approaches
Idiographic and nomothetic approaches to psychological investigation
Should psychology focus its attention on people in general or the individual?
Idiographic
focus on individual cases to understand behaviour. Doesn't normally make comparisons, and generally produces qualitative data (in-depth to understand motivations behind behaviour). E.g. humanistic and psychodynamic
Nomothetic
focus on people in general and study behaviour through the development of general principles. Tends to make comparisons and is generally thought of as more scientific, generally producing quantitative data. E.g. behavioural or biological
| Idiographic methods | Nomothetic methods |
|---|---|
| Unstructured Interviews Case studies Self-report measures | Experiments Questionnaires |
Nomothetic approach:
(1)
P: Produces objective and scientific evidence.
E: The use of controlled, standardised, and replicable methods ensures reliability and objectivity in data collection.
E: Therefore, nomothetic research is seen as more scientific and can produce results that are less influenced by researcher bias.
(2)
P: May overlook individual differences and unique experiences.
E: The focus on averages and general principles can minimise the complexity of individual experiences.
E: Therefore, the nomothetic approach might miss important aspects of behaviour that are better captured by idiographic methods.
Ideographic approach:
(3)
P: Provides detailed, in-depth understanding of individual behaviour.
E: Case studies and unstructured interviews allow for a comprehensive exploration of a person's experiences and motivations.
E: Therefore, idiographic research can uncover rich, qualitative insights that might be missed by broader, quantitative methods.
(4)
P: Reduced generalisability due to small sample sizes.
E: Idiographic research often involves detailed studies of few individuals, which may not represent the broader population.
E: Therefore, findings from idiographic research may lack external validity and cannot be easily generalised.
(5)
P: Idiographic research can be highly subjective.
E: The detailed, qualitative nature of idiographic methods, such as case studies and unstructured interviews, relies heavily on the researcher's interpretations and perspectives.
E: Therefore, the findings may be influenced by researcher bias, reducing the objectivity and reliability of the results.