Final answer:
A symbolic interactionist would most likely use participant observation as a research technique, since this allows for an immersive understanding of the social interactions and meanings in their natural context.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks about the research technique that would most likely be used by a symbolic interactionist. Symbolic interactionism is a sociological perspective that focuses on the ways in which individuals interact through symbols, such as words, gestures, and other items that have culturally derived meanings. Symbolic interactionists are interested in understanding these interactions and the meanings behind them, which are often nuanced and subjective. Therefore, the research method most aligned with this approach is participant observation, as it allows the researcher to immerse in the social setting and directly observe the interactions in their natural context.
Option A (Surveys) could provide some insight, but it does not offer the same depth that participant observation can provide in understanding the subtleties of social interactions. Option C (Quantitative data analysis) is also less preferable for a symbolic interactionist since it generally involves numerical data that may not capture the intricacies of social meanings. Option D is not directly related and serves as a distractor. Thus, the most likely research technique used by a symbolic interactionist is option B, participant observation.