Question

Which of the following research scenarios are examples of the observation method?

a. A car dealer checking which radio stations cars are tuned to when they're brought in for service to know which stations to advertise on
b. Recording license plate information in a shopping mall parking lot to learn where shoppers are coming from
c. The use of different colored promotional flyers mailed to different zip codes to identify which trading area a retailer is serving
d. Studying scuff marks on tiles at a museum as a means of measuring the popularity of a display
e. All of these are examples of observational research methods.

Answer 1

The observation method includes scenarios such as a car dealer checking radio stations, recording license plates at malls, and studying scuff marks in museums, as all involve direct observation without manipulating the environment or subjects.

Step-by-step explanation:

The research scenarios that represent examples of the observation method are a situation where a car dealer checks which radio stations are tuned in the cars for advertising decisions, an instance where license plate information is recorded in a mall parking lot to determine shopper origins, and a case of studying scuff marks on museum tiles to gauge display popularity. These all involve directly observing and recording behavior or outcomes without manipulating the environment or the subjects within it.

On the other hand, scenarios that involve surveys and questionnaires, such as a marketing manager collecting customer age data, a librarian tracking book checkouts by age, or political party staff conducting post-debate phone surveys, do not fit the observation method category. These involve collecting self-reported data from study participants and are better classified as survey research.

Correct answer: e. All of these are examples of observational research methods.