Final answer:
Responsible companies use records for quantitative and qualitative analysis to improve their services and understand consumer behavior, while maintaining ethical standards and protecting privacy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Responsible companies use records for performing quantitative and qualitative analysis, not for unethical practices such as selling data to other companies, spying on customers, or identifying competitors unethically. Companies gather information from customers and other stakeholders to enhance their offerings and better serve their market. They may utilize methodologies like content analysis, surveys that collect both quantitative and qualitative data, and other research methods to understand consumer preferences and behaviors.
Gathering information in an ethical manner is essential for businesses to maintain trust and ensure privacy. Public records are challenging to access and require a systematic approach to validate and extract useful information. This in turn helps businesses to make informed decisions without infringing on personal privacy or engaging in practices that might damage their reputation.