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Nomothetic Vs Idiographic
Nomothetic Vs Idiographic
Nomos law
Used to understand behavior common to all, for instance
behavior of a group
Large scale is possible
Statistical/ quantitative techniques can be more appropriate
Provides a superficial understanding
Less subjective
Humanity
Sciences of events
What always is
Nomothetic
Idiographic
SOCIOLOGY:
Nomothetic Approach : Tries to find independent variables that account for the variations in a given phenomenon
(e.g. What is the relationship between timing/frequency of childbirth and education).
Analysis- directed towards general principles. Main Aim of study- Abstract generalisations from specific events
From sociological perspective, application of this method entails that individual events are studied not for
their own sake but for their significance in so far as they contribute to the formulation of generalization.
Drawback: Nomothetic explanations are usually incomplete.
Idiographic Approach: Focuses on a complete, in-depth understanding of a single case (e.g. Why do I not have any
children).
ANTHROPOLOGY:
Idiographic describes the study of a group, seen as an entity, with specific properties that set it apart from
other groups.
Nomothetic refers to the use of generalization rather than specific properties of the group studied.
Nomothetic Approach
Idiographic Approach
Nomothetic Approach
Superficial understanding of any one
person
Idiographic Approach
Difficult to generalize findings