Idiographic vs Nomothetic Approaches in Psychology

Idiographic vs Nomothetic Approaches

• Idiographic approach: Focuses on the uniqueness of individuals. Studies individual behaviour and experiences. Uses qualitative methods like interviews, case studies, and thematic analysis to gain in-depth understanding.
• Nomothetic approach: Focuses on establishing general laws and principles that apply to a population. Studies large groups to establish commonalities. Uses quantitative methods like experiments and meta-analysis.

Idiographic Approach Evaluation

• Focus on individual behaviour: Provides a deep understanding of individual behaviour.
• Case studies: Often generate future research questions.
• Time-consuming: Can be a lengthy process.
• Lack of scientific evidence: May lack strong scientific evidence for generalising laws.
• Potential for bias: May be subjective and influenced by researcher's perspective; should consider gender and cultural differences.
• Limited ecological validity: May not accurately reflect how behaviour manifests in the real world

Nomothetic Approach Evaluation

• Uses scientific methods: Objective and repeatable methods (e.g., experiments).
• Measurable results: Enables prediction of data.
• Less time-consuming: Generally quicker than idiographic studies.
• Aiding in the development of general laws: Helps establish general laws about behaviour.
• General laws: Can be used to understand causes of behaviour and develop effective treatments.
• Lack of ecological validity: May not reflect how behaviour manifests in the real world.
• Does not consider gender/cultural differences: Potential biases in generalisations.