Final answer:
Quantitative sociology employs regression and correlation analysis to uncover patterns in consumer behavior and satisfaction. Regression analysis explores cause-and-effect relationships, while correlation identifies associations between variables without implying causality. These techniques are pivotal in analyzing market research data to inform business strategies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The technique that uses statistical methods such as regression or correlation analysis to predict consumer behavior or measure customer satisfaction is known as quantitative sociology. Regression analysis is used to determine the strength and direction of causality between a dependent variable (like obesity rates) and one or more independent variables (such as the density of fast-food restaurants). However, correlation merely identifies relationships between two or more variables, such as ice cream consumption and crime rates, without establishing a cause-and-effect link.
These statistical techniques are applied in various contexts, such as determining the proportion of consumers who prefer a new product or understanding the demographics of a store's customers. In fact, these methods are integral to market research, where they are used to analyze data for patterns that can significantly impact business strategies. While not all surveys are designed for scientific research, those used in quantitative sociology often aim to gather empirical evidence in numerical form that can provide insights into patterns of human behavior.