The process of mixing flour, butter, chocolate chips, and baking soda, and then shaping them into flat circles, primarily involves a physical change. This is because you are combining ingredients without altering their chemical composition. However, it's important to note that when these cookies are baked, a chemical change occurs due to the heat affecting the ingredients, causing them to transform into a different substance (the baked cookies).
For the specific action described (mixing and shaping the dough), the correct response is:
physical change.