A researcher designs a study to understand how expressions of happiness differ around the world. The researcher collects data by showing a series of humorous videos to participants in Egypt, Brazil, and South Korea, and then codes their facial expressions. Which specific research approach does this study design best represent?

A researcher is studying the expression of emotions. The researcher recruits participants from various ethnic backgrounds (e.g., Asian-American, African-American, Latinx-American) all living in Chicago to observe how they react to a series of emotionally charged film clips. Based on this research design, which of the following statements is the most accurate conclusion about the study's approach?