This document discusses marketing research and its importance for businesses. It defines marketing research as the systematic process of identifying, collecting, analyzing, and disseminating information to understand customer needs and the marketplace. Marketing research is necessary for businesses to effectively undertake marketing activities, adapt to changes in technology, consumer tastes, market demand, and more. The document outlines different types of marketing research like problem identification, problem-solving, market share, sales analysis, business trends, segmentation, product, pricing, promotion and distribution research. It also discusses primary and secondary research, market segments, customer profiling, knowing competitors, and provides examples of career roles in marketing research.