What is the nature of idiographic data?

This work starts from a key consideration. If idiographic study is today recognized as a scientific method of gaining knowledge, it is evident at the same time that its consolidation and further advancement in psychological research requires a rigorous definition not only of the theoretical frame guiding the reading of the object investigated in the study, but also of its methodological principles (Slife, 2004). As observed (Molenaar & Valsiner, this volume; Salvatore, 2006), the idiographic purpose of taking into account the local nature of meaning-making joins with the scientific need to cumulate local production of knowledge and to ensure that it is inter-subjectively verified. From my point of view, on the one hand this means defining the data investigated, the tools used to collect it and their linkage with the object investigated and on the other hand - and first of all – making explicit the theory of data that idiographic study assumes as the frame of reference, in constructing and understanding its data. This paper deals with this volume. Starting from recognition of data theory which Toise (this volume)’s idiographic study seems to be referring to, conditions and constraints concerning a semantic approach to discursive data are discussed. Moreover it is here suggested that the methodological task of defining the nature of idiographic data requires taking into account the dialogical and situated nature of sense making and therefore of the data that idiographic study assumes as its frame of reference. This entails a semiotic approach to data.