What is the primary focus of marketing research?

The primary focus of marketing research is to identify customer needs and market trends. This process involves gathering and analyzing data about consumers, competitors, and the overall market to understand what customers want, how they behave, and what influences their purchasing decisions. By understanding these factors, businesses can tailor their products, services, and marketing strategies to better meet consumer demands. This not only helps in product development and positioning but also in anticipating changes in the market environment that could affect sales and customer satisfaction.

The other options relate to important aspects of business operations but do not encapsulate the core objective of marketing research. For instance, increasing product prices is a pricing strategy that may result from insights gained through marketing research rather than its primary focus. Evaluating employee performance focuses on internal organizational assessment rather than external market dynamics. Developing advertising campaigns is a tactical application of marketing research insights but does not represent the foundational goal of research itself.