Which marketing research technique is primarily used to obtain large-scale statistics?

Surveys are the marketing research technique primarily used to obtain large-scale statistics. They are designed to gather quantifiable data from a sizeable population, enabling researchers to analyze trends, preferences, opinions, and behaviors in a statistically significant manner. Surveys can be administered through various methods such as online questionnaires, telephone interviews, or face-to-face interactions, allowing researchers to reach a wide audience and collect a substantial amount of data efficiently.

While focus groups provide qualitative insights through in-depth discussions with a smaller number of participants, they do not offer the extensive statistical data that surveys can provide. Causal studies, though valuable for understanding cause-and-effect relationships, typically involve controlled experiments and smaller sample sizes, focusing on specific variables rather than broader statistical insights. Descriptive analysis is a method used to summarize and interpret data but does not inherently refer to the process of collecting that data, making surveys the more fitting choice for large-scale statistics.