Scoops are timed side missions in . They allow Frank to gain extra Prestige Points (PP) to level up quickly. Certain Scoops also give more story context, or can prevent tragedies from occurring in future days.
Several of them require progression in the main story cases, but some are reliant on other Scoops to be completed. If you fail either of the two, that Scoop will be inaccessible until you restart the game.
With the tight deadlines in every version of, expect to miss some Scoops on your first playthrough. Frank will begin the adventure at a low level, and might not have the skills to even safely reach some of the destinations in time.
Consider waiting to complete every Scoop until a second try. You can then use all of that accumulated PP to make a strong main character and focus on a particular ending.
As you explore the Parkview Mall, several people will have special requests or odd demands. Some of them, like survivor turned Psychopath Kent Swanson, are found running around the zombie-infested area.