What is the primary purpose of a questionnaire in business analysis?

The primary purpose of a questionnaire in business analysis is to gather information systematically from respondents through a structured set of defined questions. This method enables analysts to collect data from a wide audience, ensuring that the information obtained is relevant and can be quantified for further analysis. By employing questionnaires, business analysts can gain insights into stakeholders' opinions, preferences, and experiences, which are crucial in understanding needs and requirements.

Utilizing questionnaires also allows for consistency in data collection, making it easier to analyze and compare responses. The structured nature of a questionnaire helps to minimize ambiguity, ensuring that the responses obtained are focused and aligned with the objectives of the analysis. This makes them a valuable tool for gathering requirements, informing decision-making, and supporting various phases of a project.

While the other choices refer to different aspects of business analysis—analyzing business operations, predicting market trends, or conducting interviews—they do not encapsulate the primary function of a questionnaire, which is specifically to collect information from respondents in a structured manner.