Idiographic and nomothetic approaches Evaluation

Question 1

what is a strength of the idiographic approach

Answer 1

POINT: One strength of the idiographic approach is that it contributes to the nomothetic approach

EVIDENCE: The idiographic approach uses in-depth qualitative methods of investigation and this provides a global description of one individual
This may complement the nomothetic approach by shedding further light on general laws or indeed bu challenging such laws. For example, a single case may generate hypotheses for further study (the case of HM)

EXPLANATION: This suggests that even though the focus is on the fewer individuals, the idiographic approach may still form “scientific lawes of behaviour”

Question 2

COUNTERPOINT for the idiographic approach

Answer 2

POINT: Supporters of the idiographic approach must still recognise the narrow and restricted nature of their work

EVIDENCE: One of the criticisms levelled at Freud is that many of his key concepts, like the Oedipus complex were largely developed from the detailed study of a single case (Little Hand)
Meaningful generalisations can’t be made without further example, there is no adequate baseline with which to compare the behaviour

EXPLANATION: This suggests that is difficult to build effective general theories of human behaviour in the complete absence of the nomothetic approach

Question 3

what is a strength for the nomothetic approach

Answer 3

POINT: The processes involved in nomothetic research tend to be more scientific

EVIDENCE: This is because it mirrors those employed within natural sciences such:
as testing under srtandardised conditions, suing data sets that provide averages, statistical analysis e.t.c

EXPLANATION: Such processes have enabled psychologists to establish norms of “typical” behaviour ( such as the average IQ of 100), arguably giving the discipline of psychology greater scientific credibility

Question 4

what is a limitation for the nomethitc approach

Answer 4

POINT: The preoccupation within the nomotheirc approach on general laws, prediction and control had been accused of “losing the person” within psychology

EVIDENCE: Knowing that there is a 1& risk of developing schizophrnia tells is little about what life is like for soemon who is experiencing the disorder

Similarly, in lab studues invloving tests, participants are treated as a series of scores rather than individual people and their subjective experiences of the situation is ignored

EXPLANATION: This means t, in its search for generalities the nomothetic approach may sometimes overlook the richness of the human experience