Regarding a person's risk of heart disease, the American Psychological Association has stated that mental health is "just" as important as the physical factors that contribute to the risk of heart disease. The methods that individuals use to cope with stress are directly correlated to how the cardiovascular system responds to a stress inducing situation. Individuals that respond to stress with anger or have a history of depression are at an increased risk of heart disease, which includes heart attack and stroke.

Phineas Gage was a key psychological "case study." A case study is defined as a particular instance of a phenomenon that is observed and analyzed in order to illustrate a thesis or principal. In this particular instance, psychologists were able to better understand the frontal lobe's ability to dictate a person's behavior and personality. 

Phineas Gage was a key psychological "case study." A case study is defined as a particular instance of a phenomenon that is observed and analyzed in order to illustrate a thesis or principal. In this particular instance, psychologists were able to better understand the frontal lobe's ability to dictate a person's behavior and personality. 

Qualitative research methods collects data utilizing naturalistic and verbal reports. Qualitative research methods rely data that is not numerical in nature. Qualitative data are collected in the following methods: case studies, participant observations, focus groups, and informal interviews. Case studies such as the Genie (the feral child) and Phineas Gage incorporate the observation and study of subjects for extended periods of time. Participant observation is a qualitative method of study preferred by those who wish to learn more about a particular group or culture through social immersion where the researcher takes on the dual role of both participant and observer. Focus groups are a common qualitative method that use semistructured interviews with a small group of individuals to gather data on particular phenomena. Likewise, informal interviews use semistructured guides to ask subjects questions in order to gather information regarding particular phenomena. On the other hand, surveys are quantitative by nature. Surveys typically use dichotomous, rating, Likert, and semantic differential scales to analyze and code respondent's answers to perform statistical operations that help to explain a particular phenomenon. 

In this situation, the psychologists would most likely use methods of participant observation. Ethnographers imbed themselves in a community and take on the dual role of both participant and observer. In this way, they collect data through direct observations. These observations are then analyzed and coded in order to generate conclusions about the Amish community. The other methods—experimentation, surveys, and historical analysis—utilize methods that are not commonly associated with ethnography. These methods can supplement ethnographic analysis; however, they are not a primary component of ethnography.

Qualitative research methods collects data utilizing naturalistic and verbal reports. Qualitative research methods rely data that is not numerical in nature. Qualitative data are collected in the following methods: case studies, participant observations, focus groups, and informal interviews. Case studies such as the Genie (the feral child) and Phineas Gage incorporate the observation and study of subjects for extended periods of time. Participant observation is a qualitative method of study preferred by those who wish to learn more about a particular group or culture through social immersion where the researcher takes on the dual role of both participant and observer. Focus groups are a common qualitative method that use semistructured interviews with a small group of individuals to gather data on particular phenomena. Likewise, informal interviews use semistructured guides to ask subjects questions in order to gather information regarding particular phenomena. On the other hand, surveys are quantitative by nature. Surveys typically use dichotomous, rating, Likert, and semantic differential scales to analyze and code respondent's answers to perform statistical operations that help to explain a particular phenomenon. 

In this situation, the psychologists would most likely use methods of participant observation. Ethnographers imbed themselves in a community and take on the dual role of both participant and observer. In this way, they collect data through direct observations. These observations are then analyzed and coded in order to generate conclusions about the Amish community. The other methods—experimentation, surveys, and historical analysis—utilize methods that are not commonly associated with ethnography. These methods can supplement ethnographic analysis; however, they are not a primary component of ethnography.

The ideal sample that is chosen out of a population is a representative sample, which means that the makeup of the sample generally matches the makeup of the population. The main benefit of choosing a larger sample is that it is more likely to be representative of the population; however, unless the sample includes the entire population (which it rarely, rarely does), it does not guarantee that it will be representative. However, larger samples are often more time consuming, harder to coordinate, and more costly, so those drawbacks have to be balanced.

A variable is described something that varies between people or objects—in this case, temperature and aggression are the variables. The “independent variable” (IV) is the variable that is manipulated by the researcher (temperature) and the “dependent variable” (DV) is the variable that changes as a result of a change in the IV (aggression). A “hypothesis” describes the relationship between variables and is generally what the researcher predicts will happen (i.e. “as the temperature in a room increases, a measure of the subject's aggression will increase as well”). Last, a “theory” is a principle or set of principles that explains a phenomenon.

The ideal sample that is chosen out of a population is a representative sample, which means that the makeup of the sample generally matches the makeup of the population. The main benefit of choosing a larger sample is that it is more likely to be representative of the population; however, unless the sample includes the entire population (which it rarely, rarely does), it does not guarantee that it will be representative. However, larger samples are often more time consuming, harder to coordinate, and more costly, so those drawbacks have to be balanced.