The is the business entity in a franchise relationship that allows others to operate a business using resources it supplies in exchange for money and other considerations general corporation
b. partner
c. franchisor
d. franchisee

The answer is the c: franchisor
The franchisor is a business entity in which allows others to operate their business using the resources and supplies in exchange for money or some other type of tradement agreement.
Let's say I have a piece of meat and you had some wood I would trade you a piece of meat that is x and x for 6 logs that were x width  and x length

The answer is:
The "franchisor" is the business entity in a franchise relationship that allows others to operate a business using resources it suplies in exchange for money and other considerations general corporation.

The best sociological research method would have to be using experiments although it has some disadvantages as well