Final answer:
An indirect method of questioning where participants project their feelings onto a third party is known as a projective technique. This contrasts with other methods like case studies and surveys, which offer different depths and types of data.
Step-by-step explanation:
An indirect method of questioning in which a research participant ascribes his or her feelings and beliefs to a third party is called a projective technique. This approach is used in psychology to assess unconscious processes where subjects project their own feelings onto ambiguous stimuli. Such techniques are less subject to intentional distortion as it is not clear what a "good" answer is, making them useful for a deeper understanding of a person's internal state. In contrast, methods like case studies utilize in-depth interviews with individuals over time, as Sigmund Freud did for the development of his theory of human personality.
Moreover, surveys are a common approach for collecting self-report data from a large number of participants, as seen in the comprehensive study conducted by Ruth W. Howard on triplets, which offers a mix of quantitative and qualitative data.