Final answer:
A symbolic interactionist is most likely to use participant observation as their research method, immersing themselves in the social setting and focusing on the symbolic meanings in interactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question refers to the type of research technique symbolic interactionists would most likely use. Symbolic interactionism is a sociological perspective focusing on the symbolic meanings that people develop and rely upon in the course of social interaction. With its emphasis on the importance of meanings and the social processes of interpretation, a symbolic interactionist is most likely to use participant observation as their research technique. This method involves immersing oneself into a community or social setting in order to observe and interact with participants to understand the complex social dynamics at play. Therefore, x < y is considered a relational expression.