Final answer:
e.
there is no published research on something important to your speech and you need to find out what listeners know.
Conducting a survey is useful when there is a lack of published research on a topic and more information is needed from the audience about their knowledge or opinions. Surveys are effective for collecting data on various attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors, offering a structured method for generating comparable information from a large group of respondents.
Step-by-step explanation:
Conducting a survey is a common method used in social sciences to collect data from individuals or groups. It is especially useful when there are gaps in published research or there is a need to gather firsthand data. The correct answer to the student's question is e. there is no published research on something important to your speech and you need to find out what listeners know. Surveys are valuable in obtaining data on attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and preferences, such as dietary habits or political opinions.
Surveys provide a structured way to collect responses, using a consistent set of questions to collect comparable data from all participants. They can gather a wide range of information, including employment status, education levels, and opinions on various topics. Although they may not always accurately capture behaviors, surveys are an effective tool to understand how people perceive their actions and thoughts.
Researchers can collect large amounts of data in a relatively short time through surveys, making them a practical choice when needing to consult a broader audience. This method's validity relies on honest self-reporting from participants and should be conducted with this limitation in mind. Surveys such as the U.S. Census demonstrate the large scale on which data collection can occur through this format.