Which statement best distinguishes qualitative data from quantitative data?

• A. Qualitative data are descriptive and non-numeric, while quantitative data are numeric and measurable.
• B. Qualitative data are always counts; quantitative data are always self-reported opinions.
• C. Qualitative data are numerical; quantitative data are categorical descriptions.
• D. Qualitative data require statistical tests; quantitative data do not.

Answer: (A)

Qualitative data describe qualities or categories using descriptive words rather than numbers, while quantitative data are expressed as numbers that you can measure or count. This distinction is what the statement is getting at: qualitative data capture descriptions like color, texture, or interview themes, and quantitative data capture measurements like height, weight, test scores, or temperature. Because of this, the first option is the best: it accurately defines qualitative data as descriptive and non-numeric and quantitative data as numeric and measurable.

The other ideas mix up what counts as data or how it’s analyzed. For example, qualitative data aren’t restricted to counts—many qualitative studies rely on descriptive categories and themes rather than numbers, and not all quantitative data come from self-reports; measurements from instruments or observations can provide numeric data. It’s also incorrect to say qualitative data are numerical or that they require statistical tests while quantitative data do not, since neither data type inherently dictates a specific testing approach.