A researcher collects data by observing people in a public space without interacting with them. This data is typically categorized as which type?

A researcher collects data by observing people in a public space without interacting with them. This data is typically categorized as which type?

• A. Private information
• B. Identifiable private information
• C. De-identified data
• D. Public behavior

Answer: (D)

Observing people in public spaces without interacting is considered public behavior. In settings where people are in public, there’s generally no reasonable expectation of privacy for the actions you can observe, so the data collected are viewed as behavior that is publicly observable. Private information would involve details people expect to keep private, which isn’t the case with straightforward public behavior. If the data were tied to identifiable individuals, it could become identifiable private information, and removing identifiers would yield de-identified data. But the act of observing in public without interaction is categorized as public behavior.

Observing people in public spaces without interacting is considered public behavior. In settings where people are in public, there’s generally no reasonable expectation of privacy for the actions you can observe, so the data collected are viewed as behavior that is publicly observable. Private information would involve details people expect to keep private, which isn’t the case with straightforward public behavior. If the data were tied to identifiable individuals, it could become identifiable private information, and removing identifiers would yield de-identified data. But the act of observing in public without interaction is categorized as public behavior.