An Idiographic Approach to Organizational Behavior Research: The Use of Single Case Experimental Designs and Direct Measures

The underlying assumptions of the dominant nomothetic (group-centered, standardized, and controlled environmental contexts, and quantitative methodologies) and idiographic (individual-centered, naturalistic environmental contexts, and qualitative methodologies) research perspectives are examined. An interactive theoretic (i.e., real people interacting in real organizations) for organizational behavior is suggested-a theoretic assumption that lends itself to an idiographic approach. Intensive singlecase experimental designs and direct observational measures are proposed as a potentially powerful methodology for idiographic research of organizational behavior.