Final answer:
Melinda is likely employing routine decision-making when buying chewing gum at a convenience store, as it is a habitual, low-cost, and low-risk purchase that does not require extended deliberation or substantial information gathering. The correct option is C.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Melinda walks into a local convenience store to buy chewing gum, she more than likely will employ routine decision-making in deciding to make that purchase.
Routine decision-making is a type of consumer behavior used for products that are bought frequently, are low-cost, and have a low associated risk.
In this type of decision, the choice is made almost automatically and with little effort or comparison of alternatives, unlike extended decision-making, which is used when making more significant purchases that require a lot of research and consideration.
For instance, when buying a new car or a house, limited decision-making involves a moderate amount of time for information gathering and deliberation, suitable for purchases that are made infrequently and have a higher risk than routine purchases but less than extended purchases.
Impulse buying, on the other hand, is an unplanned decision to buy, made just before a purchase.
However, since gum is typically a habitual purchase, it does not typically invoke significant deliberation or an impulsive response. The correct option is C.