I&D 07: Idiographic & nomothetic (b) A03

Explain how the use of quantitative (3) and experimental (1) methods makes the nomothetic approach scientific.

Use of quantitative methods

•+ statistical analysis

•+ large samples

•=> measure strength of relationships between variables

Use of experimental methods

•=> identify causal relationships

Explain how the use of qualitative and case study methods makes the idiographic approach unscientific. (3+2)

Use of qualitative methods

•=> open to interpretation

•=> open to researcher bias

•=> harder to replicate

Use of case studies

•=> unrepresentative

•=> ungeneralisable

Explain why critics argue that the nomothetic approach ‘loses the whole person’ (4)

* Lack of detail on individuals from each method

* Limited range of methods​

=> fails to fully capture all aspects of the individual​

=> misses complex interaction of variables

Explain why the use of qualitative and case study methods in the idiographic approach obtains more meaningful / rich / in- depth information, thus capturing ‘the whole person’ (2+2)

Use of qualitative methods

=> explore inner world of participant​

=> i.e., from their subjective perspective​

Use of case study method ​

=> involves variety of methods​

=> detailed data on participant​

Explain how the idiographic approach can contribute to the nomothetic approach by enhancing (i) testing and (ii) generation of theories.​ (2x3)

Enhance testing of theories

* Some case studies are natural experiments​

* => appropriate test cases for general laws​

Enhance generation of theories​

* Exploration of examples can provide ideas for large scale studies​

* Can identify key variables / hypotheses likely to apply to others​​