Final answer:
To study the impact of COVID on McDonald's restaurant via secondary research methods, one would analyze existing data, including financial reports and market research, to gauge changes in revenue and consumer behavior.
This nonreactive research allows for impartial analysis without directly interacting with the subjects.
Step-by-step explanation:
McDonald's, being a large fast-food chain, may have been affected during the pandemic differently due to its size, market reach, and ability to adapt to conditions like shifting to drive-through and delivery services.
Secondary data sources such as financial reports, market research on fast food consumption, WHO statistics, and health studies related to fast food and obesity prevalence could provide insight into McDonald's performance and role in societal trends.
Moreover, the use of secondary data has the advantage of being nonreactive research, which allows for study without influencing the subject's behavior or the need for direct contact, thus reducing investment risks and ethical concerns linked to primary research.
It would be informative to consider the cultural perception of fast food employment and its association with health concerns, both of which influence consumer behavior and, by extension, McDonald's bottom line.
Mapping trends from the obtained data can offer a comprehensive view of the impact on McDonald's and possibly represent a broader trend seen across the fast-food industry.