Nomothetic vs Idiographic approach

nomothetic definition

aims to identify general principals that govern the behaviour of most people, specific aspects of the behaviour of representative samples of individuals. allowing behaviour to become predictable. normally use objective measures.

idiographic defenition

understanding the behaviour or mental processes of one particular individual obtained from an in depth perspective. subjective experience.

nomothetic strengths

the general attempt to discover behavioural ‘laws of nature’ and the use of quantitative research methods closely follows the approach of other sciences

it produces data capable of being replicated by other investigators

it can allow for some types of behaviour to be reliably predicted and could prevent the emergence of some kinds of behaviour disorders

idiographic strengths

it focuses on the whole human person. rather than seeing human complexity and individuality as obstacles to research, the idiographic approach regards them as interesting characteristics to be investigated

it allows detailed qualitative information to be collected through longuitudinal studies of interesting and unusual behaviours

it can provide insights into behaviour/experience that may greatly stimulate further research

nomothetic weaknesses

informationo captured in this approach is highly focused on one very small aspect of behaviour or experience

it is concerned with the collected of a large set of quantitative data rather than with forming an in-depth understanding

it tends to view people as objects acted on by their environment rather than active participants who are engaged in the construction of meaning and whose actions shape events in their surroundings

idiographic weaknesses

the data produced is the product of a specific situation and set of interactions with the researcher and participant. it may therefore not be replicable or allow for predictions to be made about behaviour in general

it is often seen in lacking scientific rigour because it deals with single cases rather than randomly obtained samples

the data mayb be affected by the researchers conscious or unconscious bias.