Idiographic V Nomothetic

Question 1

Idiographic

Answer 1

focused on individual + unique personal experience of human nature
- qualitative research
- individual case study can undermine a theory

Question 2

Idiographic e.g.

Answer 2

• David Reimer

Question 3

Idigraphic research AO3 - not useful

Answer 3

• unable to produce general laws or predictions - limited usefullness
• unscientific nature
• time consuming

Question 4

Idiographic research AO3 + powerful

Answer 4

• evidence based
• CS has a powerful evaluation tool

Question 5

Nomothetic

Answer 5

Establishing general laws based on study of large groups
- quantitative research

Question 6

How different approaches are nomothetic

Answer 6

biological = psychological disorders
behaviourist = animal study -> humans
cognitive = MSM -> all
psychopathology = DSM-V -> all

Question 7

Nomothetic reseach AO3 + scientific

Answer 7

• experimental methods
• controlled measurement, ability to predict + control behaviour

Question 8

Nomothetic research AO3 - superficial understanding

Answer 8

• Drug treatments don’t work for all
• loses sight of whole person and creates a superficial understanding of human behaviour

Question 9

Interactionalist

Answer 9

• Distinction is false
• approaches take advantage of both sides
• they are complementary not contradictory