A01

• The idiographic approach focuses on studying individuals in-depth to understand human behaviour through detailed information about a single person or small group. This often involves qualitative research, such as case studies and unstructured interviews. For instance, the humanistic and psychodynamic approach are idiographic, utilising detailed observations to explain self-development and individual phobias.
• Conversely, the nomothetic approach aims to study large groups to establish general principles and norms of behaviour. This method aligns with traditional scientific models, using hypotheses, structured questionnaires, and statistical analyses to quantify behaviour. The goal is to create general laws applicable to broader populations. Examples include behaviourist research on learning and Sperry's biological studies on hemispheric lateralization, which sought to develop generalizable theories.
• A key difference between these approaches is their stance on objectivity. The nomothetic approach emphasises objectivity, aiming for standardised, replicable methods to eliminate bias. The idiographic approach values subjective individual experiences, as opposed to complete objectivity in psychological research. Both approaches offer valuable insights and may overlap in contributing to a comprehensive understanding of human behaviour.