A social scientist studies the behavior of four persons in a carpool. This is an example of:

The scenario described involves observing the interactions and behaviors of individuals within a specific social context, which is a central focus of social psychology. Social psychology examines how individuals' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the presence of others. In this case, the behavior of the four persons in a carpool reflects how various social dynamics, such as cooperation, group dynamics, and interpersonal relationships, play out in a confined setting.

Exploring how people behave in a shared context like a carpool can reveal insights into group interactions, social norms, and the impact of social settings on behavior, all of which are key themes in social psychology. This approach contrasts with developmental psychology, which focuses on changes across the lifespan; experimental psychology, which typically involves controlled experiments to study mental processes; and macroeconomics, which deals with the economy as a whole, including broad factors such as inflation and unemployment.