Which statement best differentiates qualitative from quantitative information?

• A. Qualitative is numerical, quantitative is descriptive.
• B. Qualitative is descriptive data about thoughts and feelings; quantitative is numerical data.
• C. Both are strictly numerical.
• D. Only qualitative data can be measured.

Answer: (B)

The main idea is how information is described and measured. Qualitative information describes qualities or attributes and is non-numeric, like descriptions of thoughts, feelings, or observed characteristics. Quantitative information uses numbers to represent quantities, measurements, or counts, enabling mathematical analysis.

The statement that best fits this difference is that qualitative data is descriptive about thoughts and feelings, while quantitative data is numerical. For example, asking someone to describe how they feel yields qualitative data, whereas recording a weight or a test score yields quantitative data.

The other options mix up these ideas: one reverses the definitions by claiming qualitative is numerical and quantitative is descriptive; another says both are strictly numerical; and another asserts only qualitative data can be measured.