Idiographic & Nomothetic Approaches (AQA A Level Psychology): Flashcards
Exam code: 7182
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Define the nomothetic approach.
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Define the nomothetic approach.
The nomothetic approach seeks to establish general laws of behaviour by studying people in groups with large sample sizes, using controlled, scientific methods such as lab experiments.
Define the idiographic approach.
The idiographic approach seeks to understand the subjective experience of the individual, studying individuals or small groups with methods such as case studies and interviews that treat people as unique.
True or False?
Idiographic research focuses on the 'what' of behaviour rather than the 'why'.
False.
Idiographic researchers are more interested in the 'why' of behaviour ('why did you feel that way?') than the 'what' ('what did you feel?').
Case studies allow the researcher to use a range of methods to create a complete picture of the participant, which is known as method .
Case studies allow the researcher to use a range of methods to create a complete picture of the participant, which is known as method triangulation.
Why does idiographic research use small samples, often a single participant?
Idiographic research uses small samples, often a single participant, to generate data that is rich, thick and insightful.
Why is research within the humanistic approach idiographic?
Humanistic research seeks to understand the 'journey' taken by an individual, e.g. using Maslow's hierarchy to chart individual progress and Rogers' client-centred therapy.
Which range of measures made the case of HM an idiographic study?
The case of HM was longitudinal research into an individual with anterograde amnesia, using:
interviews with HM, his family and medical staff
a star-tracing task to investigate procedural memory
general observations of his behaviour
MRI scans to determine the nature of the brain damage
How can the detail of idiographic research benefit therapy?
A comprehensive, global understanding of the individual gives better insight into the multi-layered nature of experience, which can inform therapies suited to individual needs, e.g. psychotherapy or client-centred therapy.
Why are the findings of idiographic research arguably more meaningful?
The idiographic approach reinstates the human as the focus of research, whereas nomothetic methods tend to 'banish' the individual, so idiographic findings reflect the reality of people's lived experience.
Why can idiographic findings not be generalised to the general population?
The restricted sample size and the unique, subjective nature of idiographic studies mean the findings cannot be generalised, which limits their overall usefulness.
Which forms of bias may affect idiographic research?
Idiographic methods are subjective and prone to:
researcher bias, where the researcher becomes over-involved and loses objectivity and impartiality
confirmation bias, where the researcher looks for behaviour that aligns with their pre-existing ideas
This means the research may lack credibility.
True or False?
Nomothetic research seeks to find differences between individuals.
False.
Nomothetic research seeks to find similarities between people, what is commonly experienced by the majority, so that findings can be generalised.
Why do nomothetic researchers use large samples?
Large samples provide a close approximation of the population, and anomalies are 'smoothed out' by general trends and patterns, so findings can be generalised from the sample to the population.
Give an example of a nomothetic study with a large sample.
Examples include:
Van IJzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988), who collected data on 1,990 participants in cross-cultural replications of the Strange Situation
Bouchard et al.'s (1990) Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart, which tested IQ and personality in over 100 sets of twins raised apart using extensive standardised testing
Nomothetic research aims to use large sample sizes to generate robust data which can withstand statistical analysis.
Nomothetic research aims to use large sample sizes to generate robust quantitative data which can withstand statistical analysis.
Why is Eysenck's personality questionnaire an example of nomothetic research?
Eysenck's personality questionnaire (Eysenck and Eysenck, 1975) measures personality on dimensions such as extraversion/introversion, derived from a standardised questionnaire, so it can be replicated in high numbers.
How does establishing general laws of behaviour help to predict behaviour?
A questionnaire on post-natal depression can identify women who may need medication or counselling; as symptoms such as low mood and lack of motivation are similar per person, practitioners can recognise the signs early and take remedial action.
Why does nomothetic research have good reliability?
Nomothetic research uses the features of science in its methodology, so studies are controlled, objective and standardised.
Why might nomothetic research lose sight of the 'whole person'?
A large data set cannot explain the subjective experience of the individual, which may be more useful than a statistically significant result, particularly for understanding mental illness, so nomothetic research may overlook the richness of individual experience.
Why is Milgram's (1963) study a weak basis for a general law of behaviour?
Milgram used only 40 male participants, so it would be unwise to treat the findings as widely generalisable; samples are not always large enough to generate laws of behaviour.
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