{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T11:01:38+00:00","modifiedTime":"2016-04-25T15:47:13+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:14:23+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Math","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33720"},"slug":"math","categoryId":33720},{"name":"Basic Math","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33722"},"slug":"basic-math","categoryId":33722}],"title":"Differences between Qualitative and Quantitative Data","strippedTitle":"differences between qualitative and quantitative data","slug":"differences-between-qualitative-and-quantitative-data","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Data — the information used in statistics — can be either qualitative or quantitative. Qualitative data divides a data set (the pool of data that you've gathere","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"<i>Data</i> — the information used in statistics — can be either qualitative or quantitative. <i>Qualitative data</i> divides a data set (the pool of data that you've gathered) into discrete chunks based on a specific attribute. For example, in a class of students, qualitative data can include\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Each child's gender</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">His or her favorite color</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Whether he or she owns at least one pet</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">How he or she gets to and from school</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"Remember\">You can identify qualitative data by noticing that it links an attribute — that is, a quality — to each member of the data set. For example, four attributes of Emma are that she's female, her favorite color is green, she owns a dog, and she walks to school.</p>\r\nOn the other hand, <i>quantitative data</i> provides numerical information — that is, information about quantities, or amounts. For example, quantitative data on this same classroom of students can include the following:\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Each child's height in inches</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Each child's weight in pounds</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">The number of siblings each child has</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">The number of words each child spelled correctly on the most recent spelling test</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"Remember\">You can identify quantitative data by noticing that it links a number to each member of the data set. For example, Carlos is 55 inches tall, weighs 68 pounds, has three siblings, and spelled 18 words correctly.</p>","description":"<i>Data</i> — the information used in statistics — can be either qualitative or quantitative. <i>Qualitative data</i> divides a data set (the pool of data that you've gathered) into discrete chunks based on a specific attribute. For example, in a class of students, qualitative data can include\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Each child's gender</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">His or her favorite color</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Whether he or she owns at least one pet</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">How he or she gets to and from school</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"Remember\">You can identify qualitative data by noticing that it links an attribute — that is, a quality — to each member of the data set. For example, four attributes of Emma are that she's female, her favorite color is green, she owns a dog, and she walks to school.</p>\r\nOn the other hand, <i>quantitative data</i> provides numerical information — that is, information about quantities, or amounts. For example, quantitative data on this same classroom of students can include the following:\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Each child's height in inches</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Each child's weight in pounds</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">The number of siblings each child has</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">The number of words each child spelled correctly on the most recent spelling test</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"Remember\">You can identify quantitative data by noticing that it links a number to each member of the data set. For example, Carlos is 55 inches tall, weighs 68 pounds, has three siblings, and spelled 18 words correctly.</p>","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9399,"name":"Mark Zegarelli","slug":"mark-zegarelli","description":" <b>Mark Zegarelli</b> is a professional writer with degrees in both English and Math from Rutgers University. He has earned his living for many years writing vast quantities of logic puzzles, a hefty chunk of software documentation, and the occasional book or film review. Along the way, he’s also paid a few bills doing housecleaning, decorative painting, and (for ten hours) retail sales. 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Differences between Qualitative and Quantitative Data

By: Mark Zegarelli and

Updated: 04-25-2016

From The Book: Basic Math & Pre-Algebra For Dummies

Basic Math & Pre-Algebra For Dummies

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Data — the information used in statistics — can be either qualitative or quantitative. Qualitative data divides a data set (the pool of data that you've gathered) into discrete chunks based on a specific attribute. For example, in a class of students, qualitative data can include

Each child's gender
His or her favorite color
Whether he or she owns at least one pet
How he or she gets to and from school

You can identify qualitative data by noticing that it links an attribute — that is, a quality — to each member of the data set. For example, four attributes of Emma are that she's female, her favorite color is green, she owns a dog, and she walks to school.

On the other hand, quantitative data provides numerical information — that is, information about quantities, or amounts. For example, quantitative data on this same classroom of students can include the following:

Each child's height in inches
Each child's weight in pounds
The number of siblings each child has
The number of words each child spelled correctly on the most recent spelling test

You can identify quantitative data by noticing that it links a number to each member of the data set. For example, Carlos is 55 inches tall, weighs 68 pounds, has three siblings, and spelled 18 words correctly.

About This Article

This article is from the book:

Basic Math & Pre-Algebra For Dummies ,

About the book author:

Mark Zegarelli is a professional writer with degrees in both English and Math from Rutgers University. He has earned his living for many years writing vast quantities of logic puzzles, a hefty chunk of software documentation, and the occasional book or film review. Along the way, he’s also paid a few bills doing housecleaning, decorative painting, and (for ten hours) retail sales. He likes writing best, though.

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Basic Math ,