idiographic and nomothetic approaches

Question 1

define nomothetic

Answer 1

studying what we share with others. That is to say in establishing laws or generalizations. Tend to use quantitative methods.

Question 2

examples of nomothetic research

Answer 2

zimbardo and milgram

Question 3

strengths of the nomothetic approach

Answer 3

1. The nomothetic approach is seen as far more scientific than the idiographic approach, as it takes an evidence based, objective approach to formulate causal laws.
2. Has helped psychology as a whole become scientific by developing laws and theories which can be empirically tested.

Question 4

weaknesses of nomothetic approach

Answer 4

Predictions can be made about groups but these may not apply to individuals.

Question 5

define idiographic

Answer 5

The approach tends to include qualatitative data, investigating individuals in a personal and detailed way. Methods of research include: case study, unstructured interviews, self-reports, autobiographies and personal documents.

Question 6

strengths of idiographic research

Answer 6

A major strength of the idiographic approach is its focus on the individual. Gordon Allport argues that it is only by knowing the person as a person that we can predict what the person will do in any given situation.

Findings can serve as a source of ideas or hypotheses for later study.

Question 7

weaknesses of idiographic

Answer 7

The idiographic approach is very time consuming. It takes a lot of time and money to study individuals in depth. If a researcher is using the nomothetic approach once a questionnaire, psychometric test or experiment has been designed data can be collected relatively quickly.

Question 8

example of idiographic research

Answer 8

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