Final answer:
The most common method to gather information about family structure is through interviews, although surveys are also used for collecting data from a larger number of individuals. The family is a key agent of socialization, which influences the data obtained from such research methods.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most common method of eliciting information on the family structure is through an interview. In many cases, especially when researchers need qualitative data, obtaining information about family structures is most effectively done through in-depth, structured interviews. This method allows for a personalized account of the family dynamic and helps to understand the roles and relations within a family.
Research methods like surveys are also commonly used, particularly by symbolic interactionists, as they tend to reveal attitudes and beliefs by asking well-crafted questions to a larger group of respondents. Surveys can be beneficial for gathering quantitative data and can highlight patterns and trends within a population.
The family itself is usually the earliest agent of socialization, indicating that during interviews or surveys pertaining to family structure, one may obtain not just a snapshot of current family dynamics but also insight into an individual's early social development.