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Quantitative or Qualitative?
What Is the Difference between "Quantitative" and "Qualitative"?
"Quantitative" and "qualitative" are easy to confuse. "Quantitative" is used with numbers, and "qualitative" is used for features or qualities.- Quantitative. Quantitative information (from "quantity") tells us the number for something that can be measured. For example:
- The branch is 4 inches thick.
- John weighs 90kg.
- Qualitative. Qualitative information (from "quality") tells us about a trait that can be observed but not measured. For example:
- The branch smells rotten.
- John is happy.

More about "Qualitative" and "Quantitative"
Quantitative
The adjective "quantitative" comes from the noun "quantity." It is commonly used to describe the words "data," "information," "evidence," and "research." Quantitative information deals with numbers. It gives the quantity of something that can be measured (e.g., age, area, height, speed, temperature, time, volume, width). For example:- The team has 7 players.
- The leaf weighs 2 ounces.
- The river is 25 miles long.
Qualitative
The adjective "qualitative" comes from the noun "quality." It is commonly used to describe the words "data," "information," and "research." Qualitative information is a description of a trait that can be observed but not measured. For example:- The team is well prepared.
- The leaf feels waxy.
- The river is peaceful.
Qualitative versus Quantitative Data
Item | Qualitative Data | Quantitative Data |
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Converting Qualitative Information to Quantitative Information
Analyzing qualitative information can be difficult because the descriptions are often subjective (i.e., a matter of personal opinion), and this makes it hard to do comparisons. As a result, qualitative information is not always useful for decision-making or identifying trends.To make qualitative information easier to work with, it can be converted into quantitative information, a process which involves turning descriptions into numbers.

This chart is often used by doctors to put a value to terms such as an "achy pain" or a "piercing pain." Allocating a number to a pain level allows a comparison with previous visits.
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