What does the survey method involve?

The survey method involves asking people questions about their thoughts and feelings, which allows researchers to gather information about individuals' attitudes, opinions, experiences, and behaviors. This technique is widely used in psychology and social sciences because it can reach a large number of participants efficiently and provides valuable quantitative or qualitative data that can highlight trends or patterns within a population. Surveys can take various forms, such as questionnaires or interviews, giving flexibility in the data collection process.

The other options describe different research methods. Observing animals in their natural habitat pertains to observational research, which focuses on gathering data through direct observation rather than self-reported information. Collecting data through structured interviews only is a more specific approach and does not encompass the full range of survey methods that can include both interviews and questionnaires. Conducting experiments in controlled environments relates to experimental research, which aims to establish cause-and-effect relationships rather than gathering subjective data on thoughts and feelings.