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AQA A-Level Psychology
8. Issues and Debates in Psychology
8.5 Idiographic and Nomothetic Approaches
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What is the primary focus of the idiographic approach in psychology?
Individual unique experiences
The idiographic approach uses
qualitative
research methods like case studies and interviews.
What is one strength of the idiographic approach in psychology?
Rich, detailed understanding
The idiographic approach is criticized for its lack of
generalizability
.
What is one strength of the nomothetic approach in psychology?
Identifying patterns in populations
The nomothetic approach emphasizes establishing general laws and
principles
that apply to a larger population.
The nomothetic approach may overlook
individual differences
in behavior.
What is an example of idiographic research in psychology?
Case study of PTSD patient
What is an example of nomothetic research in psychology?
Effect of therapy on anxiety
The idiographic approach emphasizes an in-depth understanding of individual
behavior
and mental processes.
Why is studying a patient's experience with PTSD using a case study considered idiographic research?
Focus on unique factors
The nomothetic approach uses quantitative research methods to identify
patterns
and trends.
What is an example of nomothetic research in the context of anxiety treatment?
Average effect of new therapy
The idiographic approach focuses on individual
experiences
, while the nomothetic approach focuses on general laws and principles.
The idiographic approach allows for tailored treatments based on
individual
uniqueness.
How can detailed case studies in the idiographic approach contribute to psychology?
Develop new theories
What is the focus of the nomothetic approach in research?
General laws and principles
The nomothetic approach uses quantitative research methods like experiments and
surveys
A study investigating the effect of a new therapy on anxiety levels in a large sample is an example of
nomothetic research
.
What type of research methods are used in the idiographic approach?
Qualitative
The idiographic approach focuses on understanding individual
experiences
The idiographic approach aims to identify patterns in populations.
False
What is one strength of the idiographic approach?
Rich, detailed understanding
The idiographic approach acknowledges that each person is
unique
Detailed case studies in the idiographic approach can lead to the development of new
theories
.
What is a key weakness of the idiographic approach?
Limited generalizability
The subjectivity of qualitative methods in the idiographic approach can introduce
bias
The nomothetic approach uses quantitative research methods to establish
general laws
.
What is one strength of the nomothetic approach?
Generalizability
By focusing on general laws, the nomothetic approach may overlook unique
experiences
Match the research approach with its key characteristics:
Idiographic ↔️ Qualitative methods
Nomothetic ↔️ Quantitative methods
The idiographic approach focuses on identifying general patterns in populations.
False
Order the key strengths of the nomothetic approach:
1️⃣ Generalizability
2️⃣ Objectivity
3️⃣ Development of general theories
Order the key weaknesses of the idiographic approach:
1️⃣ Limited generalizability
2️⃣ Subjectivity
What is one weakness of the nomothetic approach?
Simplified reality
The nomothetic approach often lacks consideration for social and cultural
context
.
What is one limitation of the nomothetic approach?
Loss of individual detail
The nomothetic approach may distort behavior by simplifying it into measurable
variables
The idiographic approach provides broadly applicable conclusions.
False
What type of research methods does the nomothetic approach use?
Quantitative
See all 63 cards
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