End bits of issues and debates

Positives of nomothetic approach

P - The nomothetic approach is more scientific.

E - Testing in lab conditions are under controlled and standardised conditions with statistical analysis of the data.

E - E.g. IQ testing – this has enabled psychologists to establish norms of ‘typical behaviour’ (e.g. average IQ of 100).

L - This gives psychology greater scientific credibility.

Negative for nomothetic approach

P - The nomothetic approach ignores the ‘whole’ person.

E - E.g., Knowing there is a 1% lifetime risk of developing schizophrenia tells us little about what life is actually like with the disorder.

E - In lab experiments, participants are given ‘scores’ with no reference to the individual person (e.g. in Memory)

L - The nomothetic approach may therefore overlook the richness of human data.

H

H