What is an appropriate purpose of analytical research?

Analytical research is primarily concerned with testing hypotheses to determine their validity through systematic investigation and data analysis. The goal is to discern relationships, causes, and effects, which allows researchers to confirm or refute their initial idea based on empirical evidence. This process often involves collecting quantitative data and applying statistical methods to assess the validity of the hypothesis.

While investigating a theory, formulating a hypothesis, or distinguishing between hypotheses are all important aspects of the research process, they do not fully capture the purpose of analytical research. These actions may precede or complement analytical research but are not its primary goal. Analytical research zeros in on the evaluation of a specific hypothesis, making it the correct answer in this context.