Idiographic VS Nomothetic

Question 1

What is the Idiographic VS Nomothetic Debate?

Answer 1

Whether the idiographic or nomothetic approach is better to study behaviour

Question 2

What is the Idiographic Approach?

Answer 2

An approach to psychological research focused on the individual and studying their behaviour within its unique context

Question 3

What are 2 examples of the Idiographic Approach?

Answer 3

The Humanistic Approach, The Psychodynamic Approach

Question 4

What are 2 examples of the Nomothetic Approach?

Answer 4

The Behaviourist Approach, The Biological Approach

Question 5

What is the Nomothetic Approach?

Answer 5

An approach to psychological research focused on establishing general laws and universal principles of behaviour that can be generalised across people

Question 6

Is the Idiographic or Nomothetic Approach more scientific and why?

Answer 6

Nomothetic, as it tends to produce quantitative data and utilise research methods (eg. lab experiments) with standardised procedures and a high level of control

Question 7

What kind of data does the Nomothetic Approach tend to produce?

Answer 7

Quantitative

Question 8

What kind of data does the Idiographic Approach tend to produce?

Answer 8

Qualitative

Question 9

What are 2 research methods often utilised by the Idiographic Approach?

Answer 9

Case studies, interviews

Question 10

What are 2 research methods often utilised by the Nomothetic Approach?

Answer 10

Lab experiments, statistical analysis

Question 11

What size groups does the Nomothetic Approach tend to study and why?

Answer 11

Large groups, in order to formulate general laws and principles of behaviour that can be generalised across a population

Question 12

Is the Idiographic or Nomothetic Approach more detailed and why?

Answer 12

Idiographic, as it focuses in-depth on the behaviour of a singular individual and thus produces a more detailed understanding and insight into their behaviour

Question 13

What are the 3 general laws that the Nomothetic Approach relies on?

Answer 13

• The classification of people
• The establishment of general principles of behaviour
• The establishment of dimensions

Question 14

Who proposed the 3 general laws that the Nomothetic Approach relies on?

Answer 14

Radford & Kirby

Question 15

What is an example of ‘Classifying people’: one of the general laws of the Nomothetic Approach?

Answer 15

The DSM, which classifies people based on symptoms of mental disorders

Question 16

What is an example of ‘Establishing general principles of behaviour’: one of the general laws of the Nomothetic Approach?

Answer 16

Classical and Operant Conditioning, which operate in the same way universally

Question 17

What is an example of ‘Establishing Dimensions’: one of the general laws of the Nomothetic Approach?

Answer 17

Eysenck’s Criminal Personality Theory, which is based on 3 dimensions

Question 18

What is an application of the Idiographic Approach?

Answer 18

The development of client-centred therapy, commonly known as counselling

Question 19

What is an application of the Nomothetic Approach?

Answer 19

The development of drug treatments, such as SSRIs