Nomothetic and idiographic

Question 1

what is meant by nomothetic?

Answer 1

The nomothetic approach is concerned with large groups of people and establishing general/ universal rules.

It concerns itself with quantitative data and using statistical tests to show general trends across samples.

This is generally through laboratory methods using high control to assume a cause and effect prediction.

The main idea of this approach is the generalisation of rules based upon representative groups of the population using rigorous scientific methods. This ensures reliability and validity of the findings from objective measures and tests removing extraneous variables.

Question 2

what is meant by idiographic?

Answer 2

This approach is concerned with understanding the individual through their own experiences, thoughts and beliefs therefore prefer to understand the individual rather than the group. Therefore, there is a preference for qualitative data initially to understand reasoning. This is done through case studies, observations, interviews and other methods to understand the individual through self-report.

Question 3

AO3 - Nomothetic

Answer 3

Scientific methods allow us to state cause and effect as it can isolate individual variables through experimental methods supporting the development of psychology as a science.

· High amount of repeatability and generalizability due to the nature of this approach meaning that we can be more certain of observable effects.

· This perspective cannot explain why we are all the same and can only state that we are therefore it is not a full explanation.

· The nomothetic perspective can only explain group behaviour and not that of the individual.

· Issues with laboratory settings meaning that there are issues with the approach due to its lack of applicability to the real world as a result of artificial setting and scenarios.

Question 4

AO3 - Idiographic

Answer 4

Deeper level of understanding revealing more information not shown by experimental methods.

· Allows you to investigate things that cannot be investigated experimentally through the use of case studies and qualitative research techniques.

· Studies that would be unethical can be investigated through self-report developing a greater access to further areas of psychology where the nomothetic approach cannot access.

· Difficulties in generalising the findings due to the uniqueness of the data.

· High attrition rate from research because of the intensity and amount of participant required meaning we could question the population validity and wider external validity.