Which type of research focuses on collecting data to model relationships between variables?

Causal research is focused specifically on collecting data to determine the cause-and-effect relationships between variables. This type of research often involves experiments or studies that manipulate one or more variables to observe the impact on another variable.

In causal research, researchers hypothesize that changes in one variable will lead to changes in another, allowing them to model these relationships and draw conclusions about the nature of the interactions. This is essential for understanding how various factors influence one another and helps marketers make informed decisions based on those relationships.

Other types of research serve different purposes. For instance, exploratory research is more concerned with gaining insights and understanding the problem or phenomenon without specific hypotheses, while descriptive research focuses on detailing characteristics of a population or phenomenon without establishing relationships. Qualitative research centers on understanding subjective experiences and interpretations, typically through unstructured or semi-structured methods. Thus, causal research is the key approach when the goal is to understand and model the relationships between variables systematically.