Final answer:
Anthony is conducting the research stage of the scientific process by gathering information and talking to vendors and people in the local area to understand what makes their hot dog businesses successful.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anthony is conducting the research stage of the scientific process. This is the stage where he gathers information and talks to vendors and people in the local area to understand what makes their hot dog businesses successful. By doing this research, he is gathering data and knowledge that will inform his decision-making process for starting his own hot dog cart.