The term for the type of research aimed at solving a specific marketing problem, rather than general knowledge, is:

• A. Primary research
• B. Secondary research
• C. Qualitative research
• D. Market research

Answer: (A)

Collecting new, original data to address a specific marketing problem is primary research. This approach is about gathering fresh information directly related to the decision you need to make, such as how customers respond to a new service or what factors influence purchase intent for a promotion. Because the data are created to answer a particular question, the results are tailored to that problem and decisions hinge on those findings.

Secondary research, by contrast, uses existing information that was collected for other purposes, which may not fit the exact issue you’re trying to solve. Market research is the broad field that includes both primary and secondary data collection and analysis, while qualitative research refers to a type of data collection that yields descriptive insights—often a part of primary research but not the defining purpose on its own.