It's also worth stating that one of the theoretical approaches associated with ethnographic research is an idiographic, rather than nomothetic, approach to data -- a concern with the particular, rather than the general.    From Wordnik.com.  [Anti Anti-Anecdotalism] Reference

I believe the distinction by Wilhelm Dilthey between "nomothetic" (= positing laws) and "idiographic" (= describing individuals) sciences, is still much more fruitful than other approaches that tend to blur the dividing line.    From Wordnik.com.  [Demarcation, Demarcation, ….] Reference

Two approaches can be complementary - idiographic can further develop a nomothetic law.    From Wordnik.com.  [Recently Uploaded Slideshows] Reference

Both can contribute to scientific approach - idiographic suited to description; nomothetic to predictions.    From Wordnik.com.  [Recently Uploaded Slideshows] Reference

The Ballzheimer's cup first round must remain undecided, as both present maximal claims within their respective (nomothetic vs idiographic re: wars) approaches.    From Wordnik.com.  [le joueur prussien] Reference

American tribes, point out the symbol of the sun, in their ancient muzzinabikons, or rock-inscriptions, and also amid the idiographic tracery and bark-scrolls of the hieratic and magical medicine songs.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Myth of Hiawatha, and Other Oral Legends, Mythologic and Allegoric, of the North American Indians] Reference