Final answer:
A nurse conducting a windshield survey is gathering observational data on factors that could impact community health, without direct interaction with residents.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse is employing a windshield survey method for data collection. This involves gathering visual information quickly by scanning the area while driving or walking through a neighborhood. It's an observational method used frequently in field research, public health, and urban planning to understand the environment and its impact on the population's health and behaviors.
In health geographics, a windshield survey helps to visually assess factors that might contribute to the well-being or health risks in a community. For instance, the condition of homes could indicate possible poverty or neglect, lot sizes could reflect population density and green space availability, and transportation modes might show accessibility to services and employment. By identifying neighborhood hangouts and road conditions, the nurse can infer social dynamics and potential areas for intervention.
Surveys like the CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System are more structured and might involve questionnaires or interviews to collect similar data, but a windshield survey provides immediate, visual, and practical impressions useful for public health assessments and planning. Unlike participant observation, focus groups, or informant interviews, this method allows a researcher to collect a breadth of information without directly engaging with community members, thus it is quick and efficient for preliminary assessments.