Idiographic / Nomothetic

• What is a Idiographic approach?

  Focus on the individual and recognition of uniqueness. It argues that we should not generalise findings to everyone because individuals are unique.
• What is a Nomothetic approach?

  Attempts to establish laws and generalisations about people. It aims to classify people and draw conclusions about populations of people (including those not directly involved in the research).

  • (e.g. antipsychotics).
• What research methods are used for a Idiographic approach and Nomothetic approach?

  • Idiographic approach - Case studies, Unstructured interviews
  • Nomothetic approach - Questionnaires, Experiments
• What are the types of general laws?

  • Classifying people into groups: DSM for mental illness classifies people with mental illnesses.
  • Establishing principles of behaviour: Findings from conformity studies from example.
  • Establishing dimensions: Allows people to be placed and compared (e.g. IQ scores).
• What is the Idiographic vs Nomothetic scale of approaches?


  
• What is a strength of Idiographic approach vs Nomothetic approach?

  Nomothetic approach is scientific

  • Aims of science is to predict and prevent behaviour by generalising behaviour and this approach fits into that. Idiographic approach doesn't fit into these aims.
• What is a limitation of Idiographic approach vs Nomothetic approach?

  Generalised treatments led by nomothetic approach

  • These treatments lose sight of the individual and specific factors that may be causing their behaviour (e.g. depression - anti-depressants may miss the central cause for depression).
• What is another strength of Idiographic approach vs Nomothetic approach?


  For idiographic, triangulation and reflexivity can be used to make the approach more scientific

  • Triangulation was multiple research methods (e.g. unstructured interviews, unstructured observations etc.) This improves reliability and reduces the risk of bias.
• What is another limitation of Idiographic approach vs Nomothetic approach?


  Lack of generalisability

  • Due to small samples, is isn't safe to generalise this to bigger populations, some would argue idiographic research isn't as useful.