Final answer:
Surveying residents about their healthcare needs is an approach in community-based participatory research, as it involves active community participation in the research process.
Step-by-step explanation:
The approach in community-based participatory research (CBPR) that is evident from the provided options is a) Surveying residents about their healthcare needs. This method exemplifies the essence of CBPR, where research questions and approaches are developed and conducted with active community involvement and partnership. On the other hand, conducting laboratory experiments, observing wildlife in a national park, and analyzing historical documents do not align with the principles of CBPR, as they generally lack direct community participation in the research process.
Community-based participatory research is collaborative by nature and aims to involve community members in all stages of the research process—from identifying the research need to collecting data, interpreting the results, and applying the knowledge gained. Therefore, surveying residents about their healthcare needs reflects a CBPR approach where community engagement and input are integral to the research effort.