4.3.1.5 Idiographic and nomothetic approaches Quiz: AQA Psychology, Unit 3

The 20 questions

1. Which approach in psychology focuses on studying the unique individual in detail?

   • Nomothetic approach
   • Behaviourist approach
   • Biological approach
   • Idiographic approach

2. Which approach in psychology aims to establish general laws across populations?

   • Idiographic approach
   • Psychodynamic approach
   • Nomothetic approach
   • Humanistic approach

3. Which research method is most typically associated with an idiographic approach?

   • Lab experiment
   • Correlational study
   • Structured observation
   • Case study

4. Which research method is most typically associated with a nomothetic approach?

   • Thematic analysis
   • Unstructured interview
   • Lab experiment
   • Case study

5. What type of data is primarily collected when using an idiographic approach?

   • Qualitative data
   • Quantitative data
   • Numerical data
   • Inferential data

6. What type of data is primarily collected when using a nomothetic approach?

   • Quantitative data
   • Narrative data
   • Descriptive data
   • Qualitative data

7. What is a key strength of using an idiographic approach in research?

   • Statistical power
   • High generalisability
   • In-depth detail
   • Easy replication

8. A psychologist studies one patient's memory loss in depth over several years. Which approach does this represent?

   • Experimental
   • Nomothetic
   • Reductionist
   • Idiographic

9. A researcher tests 500 participants to find a general relationship between sleep and mood. Which approach is this?

   • Qualitative
   • Nomothetic
   • Idiographic
   • Holistic case study

10. What is a major limitation of using a nomothetic approach in psychology?

    • Cannot be replicated
    • Lacks scientific rigor
    • Overlooks individual differences
    • Produces qualitative data

11. What is a key limitation of the idiographic approach in psychology?

    • Demand characteristics
    • Low validity
    • Cultural bias
    • Poor generalisability

12. Which approach is closest to the aims of clinical case formulation?

    • Idiographic
    • Experimental
    • Reductionist
    • Nomothetic

13. A study surveys 1,000 people and reports averages across the sample. What approach does this represent?

    • A holistic diary
    • An idiographic approach
    • A nomothetic approach
    • A case study

14. A researcher is interested in why one specific child developed a phobia. Which approach fits best?

    • Nomothetic
    • Androcentric
    • Ethnocentric
    • Idiographic

15. In what way does idiographic research complement the nomothetic approach in psychology?

    • Establishes universal laws
    • Provides individual detail
    • Ensures high reliability
    • Increases sample sizes

16. Why is idiographic research often considered less scientific than nomothetic research?

    • Lacks qualitative detail
    • Uses controlled experiments
    • Focuses on averages
    • Hard to replicate

17. Which research approach best investigates individual differences in treatment responses?

    • Idiographic approach
    • Nomothetic approach
    • Biological approach
    • Behaviourist approach

18. What main limitation arises from relying solely on group averages in nomothetic research?

    • Lacks statistical power
    • Reduces objectivity
    • Ignores individual variation
    • Prevents general laws

19. Which feature of idiographic case studies leads to criticisms of researcher bias?

    • Standardised testing
    • Large sample sizes
    • Subjective interpretation
    • Controlled observation

20. What is the main benefit of combining idiographic and nomothetic approaches in research?

    • Faster data collection
    • Absolute objective truth
    • Elimination of bias
    • Complete psychological understanding

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