Mr John MacDonald
A balance between Nomothetic and idiographic approaches is needed for a complete study of psychology. Discuss this with statement with reference to at least one topic area in psychology.
Nomothetic research is about attempting to establish general laws and generalisations and is therefore linked to the social learning theory as the laws of modelling apply to all people (Bandura). It is also related to the biological approach as biological influences apply generally to all. For example one specific chromosome determines someone’s gender, X for females and Y for males. The focus of the Nomothetic approach is to obtain objective knowledge through scientific methods. Hence quantitative methods of investigation are used, to try and produce empirical data.
The methods of investigation used by the Nomothetic approach collect scientific and quantitative data. To do this, experiments and observations are used, and group averages are statistically analysed to create predictions about people in general. An example of this is Milgrim’s experiments on obedience. From his scientific experiments he found that 65% of his participants would harm another person, potentially killing them, within the presence of an authority figure. Although there were many ethical issues with his experiment including the deception involved and potential harm to the participant, this is an example of Nomothetic research. Milgrim repeated his experiments many times and as a result created his laws of obedience.
Nomothetic approach is considered scientific due to its’ precise measurement, prediction and control of behaviour, investigations of large groups, objective and controlled methods allowing for replication and generalisation. Due to this, it has helped psychology become more scientific by developing theories that can be empirically tested.
However the Nomothetic approach does have its limitations. The approach leaves us with a more superficial understanding of any one person, as people may
Nomothetic research is about attempting to establish general laws and generalisations and is therefore linked to the social learning theory as the laws of modelling apply to all people (Bandura). It is also related to the biological approach as biological influences apply generally to all. For example one specific chromosome determines someone’s gender, X for females and Y for males. The focus of the Nomothetic approach is to obtain objective knowledge through scientific methods. Hence quantitative methods of investigation are used, to try and produce empirical data.
The methods of investigation used by the Nomothetic approach collect scientific and quantitative data. To do this, experiments and observations are used, and group averages are statistically analysed to create predictions about people in general. An example of this is Milgrim’s experiments on obedience. From his scientific experiments he found that 65% of his participants would harm another person, potentially killing them, within the presence of an authority figure. Although there were many ethical issues with his experiment including the deception involved and potential harm to the participant, this is an example of Nomothetic research. Milgrim repeated his experiments many times and as a result created his laws of obedience.
Nomothetic approach is considered scientific due to its’ precise measurement, prediction and control of behaviour, investigations of large groups, objective and controlled methods allowing for replication and generalisation. Due to this, it has helped psychology become more scientific by developing theories that can be empirically tested.
However the Nomothetic approach does have its limitations. The approach leaves us with a more superficial understanding of any one person, as people may