Final answer:
Marketing research can be ineffective if the objectives are poorly defined, leading to irrelevant data collection and potential misinterpretation (C). Clear objectives are crucial for guiding the research process and ensuring efficient use of resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
Marketing research efforts and resources can be wasted if research objectives are poorly defined. Without clear objectives, it's challenging to determine what information is needed and how best to obtain it. This can lead to irrelevant data collection, misconstruing the data that is collected, or even missing fundamental insights.
In the scientific method, formulating a hypothesis is an important step, but the defined objectives guide the overall research effort. A hypothesis is a tentative explanation to be tested through scientific investigation, and it comes after defining the objectives. Well-defined objectives ensure that the research stays on track and that the collected data is relevant to the questions that the study aims to answer.
It's essential that these objectives are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) to guide the research process effectively and make efficient use of resources.