Idiographc & Nomothetic

Question 1

What is the idiographic approach?

Answer 1

Studying an individual, emphasising unique subjectivity of human experience. Often involves subjective qualitative research (eg. Unstructured interviews)

Question 2

What is the nomothetic approach?

Answer 2

Studying a larger sample in order to formulate general laws of behaviour p. Often involves objective quantitative research (eg. Psychological tests and statistical analysis)

Question 3

Radford & Kirby

Answer 3

Nomothetic approach aims to classify people into groups, establish principles of behaviour that can be generalised and dimensions in which people can be compared

Question 4

Strengths of idiographic & nomothetic

Answer 4

ID - In depth complete account (eg. HM contradicted MSM, generating further research and adding validity to psychological theories)
NOM - Scientific (eg. Constituent parts of target behaviour reliably measured through use of operationalised categories, increasing internal validity)

Question 5

Limitations of idiographic & nomothetic

Answer 5

ID - Lacks scientific credibility (eg. Theories struggle to be generalised beyond individual, reducing ecological validity)
NOM - Individual differences (eg. Research into frequency of depression or bipolar disorder tells us little about individual experiences so little about which treatment is most beneficial)