Final answer:
In Health Information Management, data manipulation is the information oriented function. 'Number of times per week' is quantitative discrete data, and a symbolic interactionist would likely use participant observation as their research method.
Step-by-step explanation:
The activity in Health Information Management (HIM) that is information oriented is d) Data manipulation. Data manipulation in HIM involves organizing, editing, and transforming data to ensure that health information is accurate and can be used effectively for patient care, billing, and analysis. Forms control, quantitative analysis, and productivity monitoring are also important functions, but they are more focused on managing processes, evaluating data quality, and monitoring efficiency, respectively, rather than directly handling the information.
The answer to the related question on the type of data represented by the "number of times per week" is b) quantitative discrete, because it expresses a countable number of occurrences within a specific time frame. And, a symbolic interactionist is most likely to use b) Participant observation as a research technique, which involves immersing themselves in a community or situation to observe interactions and behaviors from the inside.