Geography as an idiographic discipline refers to which of the following?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Descriptive
Option (1) Law making — Incorrect. Geography as a law making or theorising discipline is nomothetic, the other side of the dualism.
Option (2) Descriptive — Correct. The debate was whether geography should be law making/theorising (nomothetic) or descriptive (idiographic). An idiographic discipline describes each place or phenomenon in its own right.
Option (3) Theory making — Incorrect. Theorising also belongs to the nomothetic side, not the idiographic one.
Option (4) Hypothesis testing — Incorrect. A hypothesis (a trial explanation) is tested to build a general law or theory, so it belongs to the nomothetic side.
Note: The concept in Option (4), ‘hypothesis testing’, is not in NCERT (2025-26); explained here for the benefit of the students.
NCERT (2025-26): “…You are already aware of the fact that the core concern of geography as a discipline is to understand the earth as home of human beings and to study all those elements which have sustained them. Thus, emphasis is on study of nature and human beings. You will realise that geography got subjected to dualism and the wide-ranging debates started whether geography as a discipline should be a law making/theorising (nomothetic) or descriptive (idiographic). Whether its subject matter should be organised and approach of the study should be regional or systematic? Whether geographical phenomena be interpreted theoretically or through historic-institutional approach?…” |