AO3: Nom & Idio

Cards (4)

Strength: Complete account
What? Idiographic approach contributes to nomothetic approach
Who? Qualitative methods of idiographic approach compliments nomothetic approach by shedding light on general laws - cases like HM may reveal insights that contribute to our overall understanding
Why? Idiographic approach may help form 'scientific' laws
Counterpoint: Complete account
What? Narrow and restricted nature of idiographic approach
Who? Meaningful generalisations cannot be made + methods are less scientific
Why? Cannot built effective general theories of human behaviour without nomothetic approach
Strength: Scientific credibility
What? Both fit with aims of science
Who? Processes in nomothetic similar to those in natural sciences - idiographic researchers seek to objectify their methods; triangulation (increased validity)
Why? Raise psychology's status as a science
Limitation: Losing the person
What? Nomothetic approach loses understanding of the individual
Who? Accused of 'losing the whole person' - simply knowing theres a 1% lifetime risk of schizophrenia tells us little about what it's like to live with it
Why? Fails to relate to experience