"gathering information from potential customers in an effort to determine their preferences is an example of using statistics in the field of "

Marketing Research

Explanation:

Marketing Research

This is the process of investigating collecting , analyzing and interpreting informatiom about a market of a particular product or service to be rendered for sale in the market , and about the past, present and potential customers for the product or service; research into the characteristics, their spending habits, location and needs of your business's target market, the industry as a whole, and the competitors you face

Accurate information about your customers needs will ensure the sales of your product and service.