Studying How People Handle Confrontation

Discuss the research methods of a psychologist interested in understanding how people handle confrontation.

The psychologist hangs out in a store near the customer service counter, unobtrusively watching the agents at the desk. She records if they respond with passive aggressiveness, kindness, or anger. Which research method was used? Identify the information in the scenario that supports your reasoning. What ethical guidelines would need to be followed to conduct this study? Which basic ideas behind early approaches in psychology most closely align with this method?