Qualitative and Quantitative Data

Qualitative Data

Characteristics:

• Descriptive in nature

• Subjective

• Often collected through interviews, observations, or surveys with open-ended questions

• Can provide rich, detailed information

Advantages:

• Captures nuances and complexities

• Generates new insights and ideas

• Can explore subjective experiences and perspectives

Limitations:

• Can be time-consuming to collect and analyze

• Prone to bias and subjectivity

• Difficult to quantify and generalize

Example: A researcher conducting interviews to understand people's experiences of a natural disaster.

Quantitative Data

Characteristics:

• Numerical in nature

• Objective

• Often collected through surveys, experiments, or measurements

• Can be analyzed statistically

Advantages:

• Can be easily analyzed and compared

• More reliable and objective

• Can be generalized to larger populations

Limitations:

• May oversimplify complex issues

• Can miss important nuances and contextual details

• Requires careful data collection and analysis to avoid bias

Example: A survey measuring the average income of a population.