Final answer:
A researcher considering a survey method for collecting data needs to take into account various situational characteristics. Surveys are often used to gather information on people's behaviors, opinions, and attitudes, although they may not fully capture real-life behaviors in social situations. Drawbacks of surveys include reliance on self-reported data and potential response biases.
Step-by-step explanation:
When selecting a survey method for collecting data, a researcher takes into consideration several situational characteristics. These include the topic of study, the specific research question, and the desired type of data.
Surveys are commonly used for gathering information about people's behaviors, opinions, and attitudes. However, they may not be suitable for capturing the ways people behave in social situations. Some drawbacks of using surveys include the reliance on self-reported data, potential response biases, and limitations in capturing complex or nuanced information.