Final answer:
The correct research strategy used when a researcher conducts a survey about college students' smartphone usage is Descriptive, which aims to capture and summarize characteristics of a specific group or phenomenon.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Research Strategies in Social Studies
A researcher who conducts a survey to determine the average number of minutes that college students spend on their smartphones in a typical day is using a descriptive research strategy. This type of research aims to accurately describe the characteristics of a particular group or phenomenon. Surveys allow for the collection of data from larger samples, which can potentially be generalized to a broader population. However, the information gleaned from surveys often has limits and is subject to the inaccuracies sometimes associated with self-reported data.
Unlike experimental research, which involves the manipulation of variables to observe outcomes, or correlational research, which investigates the relationship between variables, descriptive research does not seek to establish cause-and-effect relationships. It provides a snapshot of the current state of what is being studied. Observational studies, surveys, and archival research are examples of nonexperimental strategies that fall under the descriptive category. Consequently, the correct answer is Descriptive. This strategy is selected because the researcher is aiming to summarize the typical behavior of college students with regard to smartphone usage without manipulating the environment or creating experimental conditions.