Qualitative Vs Quantitative Data

Qualitative vs Quantitative Data

There are two types of data that can be collected from instruments (aka data collection tools); quantitative and qualitative. You'll note in some of your readings that qualitative researchers themselves are sometimes referred to as an instrument, because they collect data through their senses of hearing (interviews) and seeing (observation).

Data that are collected in numerical form are always classified as being quantitative. Data that are collected in the form of words (interviews and open-ended questions) or from visual observation are classified as qualitative.

Determine if the following data collected would be quantitative or qualitative:

1. Quantitative. Scores received on a statistics exam

2. Qualitative. Observations of the eating habits of teenagers

3. Qualitative. Reasons attorneys give for choosing jurisprudence as a profession during phone interview sessions

4. Quantitative. Nielsen ratings

5. Qualitative. The most common physical side effects of aspirin reported by patients from open-ended questions on a data collection tool

6. Quantitative. The ratio of nurses to patients on a surgical floor

7. Qualitative. What is it like to be a UoP graduate student?

8. Quantitative. The names of the Ingredients in a spaghetti sauce recipe

9. Quantitative. The types of vitamins found in chewable supplements

10. Quantitative. Flying patterns of swallows returning to Capistrano, California

11. Qualitative. Communication skills observed in television news reporters

12. Qualitative. Asking a patient to describe their pain

13. Quantitative. Asking a patient to rate their pain on a Likert-type scale

14. Quantitative. Letter grades

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