Alicia is conducting research on consumer behavior. The study requires her to note the number of people who shop at Fresnas Mart, a grocery store, in the afternoons during weekdays. She also needs to pay attention to the customers' preferred brands, the customer service, and the arrangement of items in the store. She needs to conduct the study without interacting with the customers so that she does not influence their behavior and choices. In this scenario, Alicia is conducting a(n) _____.
replication study
observational study
normative study
experimental study
In this scenario, Alicia is conducting an observational study. This type of study involves observing subjects in their natural environment without any interaction or manipulation by the researcher, which aligns with her goal of not influencing customer behavior and choices.