Quantitative or Qualitative?

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.

Ready for the Test?

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.

Put simply, quantitative information tells us about a quantity.

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.

Put simply, qualitative information tells us about a quality.

Qualitative versus Quantitative Data

Item	Qualitative Data	Quantitative Data
	He is friendly. He smells like popcorn. His coat is beautifully groomed.	He is three years old. He weighs 15 kilograms. His temperature is normal. (Note: This is quantitative data because it can be measured to attain a numerical result.)
	It is regal. It is smooth. It invokes serenity.	It costs $200,000. It is over 500 years old. It is 25 inches tall.

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.

Converting qualitative information to quantitative information can usually be done with a bit of thought. For example, the qualitative statement "Users could not find the 'Check Out Now' button" could easily be converted to the quantitative statement "40% of users did not find the 'Check Out Now' button." This allows improvements to be made and results to be analyzed.