What is qualitative data?

What is qualitative data?

• A. Data that gives descriptions such as color or smell.
• B. Data that gives numbers.
• C. Data that measures mass.
• D. Data that expresses numbers.

Answer: (A)

Qualitative data are descriptions of properties or characteristics that can be observed but not measured with numbers. Think of observations like color, smell, texture, shape, or taste. These are expressed in words or categories (for example, blue vs. green, sour vs. sweet) rather than as numeric values. In contrast, quantitative data are numerical and involve measurements or counts, such as mass, length, or temperature. So the option describing data that gives descriptions such as color or smell best captures qualitative data.

Qualitative data are descriptions of properties or characteristics that can be observed but not measured with numbers. Think of observations like color, smell, texture, shape, or taste. These are expressed in words or categories (for example, blue vs. green, sour vs. sweet) rather than as numeric values. In contrast, quantitative data are numerical and involve measurements or counts, such as mass, length, or temperature. So the option describing data that gives descriptions such as color or smell best captures qualitative data.