Idiographic vs nomothetic approach

Question 1

The debate

Answer 1

Whether psychology should focus on the individual or on people in general

Question 2

The nomothetic approach

Answer 2

Establishes laws and generalisations using quantitive methods which produces statistical data.

Question 3

Ways laws can be classified

Answer 3

Classifying people into groups (types of attachment)
Classifying principles (The principle of classical conditioning)
Establishing dimensions (extroversion scale)

Question 4

Strengths of nomothetic research

Answer 4

Regarded as scientific as it is precise, controlled, based on prediction, objective and allows replication and generalisation.

Question 5

Limitation of nomothetic research

Answer 5

Loses sight of the whole person and gives a superficial understanding which doesn’t explain why people act the way they do.

Question 6

The idiographic approach

Answer 6

Focuses on the individual and recognises uniqueness. people are studied in an individual way. Uses qualitative methods of investigation with a focus on private, subjective and conscious experience. Uses case studies

Question 7

Strengths of idiographic research

Answer 7

Provides a detailed understanding of the individual which can form the basis for ideas e.g pilot studies. IT can refute existing theories (WMM)

Question 8

Limitations of idiographic research

Answer 8

Cannot be generalised