What is 'qualitative' data?

• A. Data described by numerical measurements.
• B. Data described by non-numerical characteristics, often categories or descriptions.
• C. Data collected only in laboratories.
• D. Data that is measured at multiple time points.

Answer: (B)

Qualitative data describe characteristics that can’t be measured with numbers. They focus on qualities, categories, descriptions, or labels—things like eye color, types of cuisine, or interview responses about feelings. This is different from quantitative data, which are numerical and can be counted or measured, such as height, temperature, or test scores. Qualitative data are often organized into categories or themes rather than amounts, and analysis looks for patterns across those categories. The other statements refer to data that are numerical, or to how data are collected rather than what kind of data they are, so they don’t define qualitative data.