idiographice and nomothetic approaches

Question 1

what is idiographic?

Answer 1

holistic approach that focuses on the individual.

Question 2

what is nomothetic?

Answer 2

a approach that looks to find general laws to apply and compare.

Question 3

two strengths of idiographic approach.

Answer 3

can make predictions:
- bc research has built up, observations of a few individuals can formulate theories
- qualitative data
-insight into why behaviour occurs whereas nomothetic approach can’t

can help develop the nomothetic approach:
- they can complement eachother
- creates accurate and useful practical applications

Question 4

two weakness of the idiographic approach.

Answer 4

practical applications difficult:
- only focuses on one individual
- difficult to compare
- a lot of time spent collecting data that might not be useful

lack of scientific rigour:
- very subjective research
-bias

Question 5

two strengths to nomothetic approach.

Answer 5

scientific:
- clear focus in scientific methods
- analysis data objectively using statistical analysis
- cause and effect
- great scientific credibility

enables prediction of behaviour:
- laws and theories
- treating mental illnesses
- would be too time consuming to create personal therapies

Question 6

two weakness of nomothetic approach.

Answer 6

does not tell us why:
- doesn’t focus on averages or statistical significance
- does not give us a full picture

humans are complex individuals:
- theories and law may bot apply to everyone
- they are more suitable when both approaches are put together