Nomothetic vs Idiographic


	Nomothetic vs Idiographic
	Advantages Case for nomothetic- The processes involved in nomothetic research tend to be more scientific, mirroring those employed within the natural sciences- testing under-standardised conditions and control. Such processes have enabled psychologists to establish norms of typical behaviour, arguably giving the discipline of psychology greater credibility. Case for idiographic- The approach provides a complete and global account of the individual. This may complement the nomothetic approach by shedding further light on general laws or by challenging such laws.	Disadvantages Case against nomothetic- The preoccupation within the nomothetic approach general laws prediction and control has been accused of 'losing the whole person' within psychology. In lab studies involving tests of memory, participants are treated as a series of scores rather than people. This means the nomothetic approach may sometimes overlook the richness of human experiences. Case against idiographic- Supporters of the idiographic approach must still recognise narrow and restricted nature of their work. Also, methods associated with the idiographic approach, such as case studies, tend to be least scientific in that conclusions often rely on subjective interpretation of researcher and, as such, are open to bias.
	Evaluation

Case for nomothetic- The processes involved in nomothetic research tend to be more scientific, mirroring those employed within the natural sciences- testing under-standardised conditions and control. Such processes have enabled psychologists to establish norms of typical behaviour, arguably giving the discipline of psychology greater credibility.
Case for idiographic- The approach provides a complete and global account of the individual. This may complement the nomothetic approach by shedding further light on general laws or by challenging such laws.

Case against nomothetic- The preoccupation within the nomothetic approach general laws prediction and control has been accused of 'losing the whole person' within psychology. In lab studies involving tests of memory, participants are treated as a series of scores rather than people. This means the nomothetic approach may sometimes overlook the richness of human experiences.
Case against idiographic- Supporters of the idiographic approach must still recognise narrow and restricted nature of their work. Also, methods associated with the idiographic approach, such as case studies, tend to be least scientific in that conclusions often rely on subjective interpretation of researcher and, as such, are open to bias.

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