Humanistic research explains particular cases while scientific research develops general theory.

Evidence

“Humanistic” research uses insights idiographically to account for peculiarities in the thick texture of complex concrete cases, whereas “scientific” research uses these insights nomothetically to study an abstract general relation as it manifests itself across a wide range of cases whose peculiarities tend to cancel each other out. The idiographic humanistic approach brings theory into confrontation with empirical observations better to understand the specific case; the nomothetic scientific approach confronts them better to develop the theory. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 304

Categorization

• DEFINE: A crisp distinction between idiographic humanistic research and nomothetic scientific research, and why each exists.
• APHORISMS: The division of labor — one confronts theory with cases to understand the case, the other to develop the theory — is a useful principle for anyone doing research.
• XREF: connects to: Each scientific research category serves a distinct guiding knowledge interest. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 2442