Qualitative research in psychology

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AP Psychology › Qualitative research in psychology

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1

The case of Phineas Gage enabled psychologists to study the effects of personality and behavior in relation to damage associated with his frontal lobe. Gage was injured when a rod pierced his skull and destroyed most of his left frontal lobe. Researchers studied Gage and noted changes in his behavior the occurred directly after and as a result of the incident. As a result, they concluded that the frontal lobe plays a key role in a person's behavior. This case is best categorized by which of the following methods of psychological research?

Case study

Participant observation

Survey

Experiment

None of these

Explanation

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.

2

The case of Phineas Gage enabled psychologists to study the effects of personality and behavior in relation to damage associated with his frontal lobe. Gage was injured when a rod pierced his skull and destroyed most of his left frontal lobe. Researchers studied Gage and noted changes in his behavior the occurred directly after and as a result of the incident. As a result, they concluded that the frontal lobe plays a key role in a person's behavior. This case is best categorized by which of the following methods of psychological research?

Case study

Participant observation

Survey

Experiment

None of these

Explanation

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.

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