Teaching:TUW - UE InfoVis WS 2008/09 - Gruppe 09 - Aufgabe 1 - Types of Data (quantitative vs. qualitative)

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Definition

Qualitative data

The term qualitative is used to describe certain types of information. Qualitative data are described in terms of quality (that is, 'informal' or relative characteristics such as warmth and flavour). This is the converse of quantitative, which more precisely describes data in terms of quantity and often using a numerical figure to represent something in a statement.
Wikipedia, Nov 2008


Additionally, quantitative data can be divided into discrete and continuous data.

Quantitative data

[...] Quantitative data is data measured or identified on a numerical scale. Numerical data can be analysed using statistical methods, and results can be displayed using tables, charts, histograms and graphs. For example, a researcher will ask a questions to a participant that include words how often, how many or percentage. The answers from the questions will be numerical. [...] After the data is collected the researcher will make an analysis of the quantitative data and produce statistics.
Wikipedia, Nov 2008



Qualitative research

Qualitative research is used when the goal is a complete and detailed description of the subject. The data is not presented in form of numbers an statistics as in quantitative data, but in the form of words, pictures and objects. Contrary to quantitative methods it is much more subjective, because the observations which are made during a research are strongly dependent on the researcher's interpretation.
In most cases qualitative methods aim to gather an in-depth understanding of human behavior and the causes that affect human behavior. There are many different ways of doing qualitative research: Qualitative data can e.g. be gained through

  • in-depth interviews with persons or groups
  • direct observation
  • referring to existing written papers.
[Wikipedia, 2004] This figure shows quantitative data represented in different ways

Quantitative research

Quantitative research is done by systematically collecting and analyzing numerical data concerning the subject. The researcher has to know clearly in advance what he/she is looking for, i.e. all aspects of the study have to be carefully designed before the data is collected. Based on the collected quantitative data statistical models can be constructed or hypotheses can be developed. One advantage of quantitative research is, that it tends to stay more objective than qualitative research. But because quantitative methods are only supplied with numerical data, the results often lack details.
Quantitative research is widely used in both, natural and social sciences.



Example: Qualitative data vs. quantitative data

In this example the difference between qualitative and quantitative data is shown. Each bullet point describes a certain attribute of a freshman class. On the left side you can see some qualitative data of the class. Obviously this data can only be gained through a close and continuous observation of the class. On the right side quantitative data of the class is shown. It contains purely numerical and statistical data.

Qualitative data:

  • friendly demeanors
  • civic minded
  • environmentalists
  • positive school spirit

Quantitative data:

  • 672 students
  • 394 girls, 278 boys
  • 68% on honor roll
  • 150 students accelerated in mathematics




References

[Neill, 2007] James Neill, Qualitative versus Quantitative Research: Key Points in a Classic Debate. Created at: February 28, 2007. Retrieved at: November 24, 2008. http://wilderdom.com/research/QualitativeVersusQuantitativeResearch.html
[Oswego City School District Regents Exam Prep Center, 1999] Donna Roberts, Qualitative vs Quantitative Data. Created at: 1999. Retrieved at: November 24, 2008. http://www.regentsprep.org/Regents/math/ALGEBRA/AD1/qualquant.htm
[Wikipedia, 2006] Crissyd, Quantitative data. Created at: February 22, 2006. Retrieved at: November 24, 2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantitative_data
[Wikipedia, 2003] FirstPrinciples, Qualitative data. Created at: August 8, 2003. Retrieved at: November 24, 2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qualitative_data
[Wikipedia, 2003] Sheldon Rampton, Quantitative research, Created at: December 05, 2003. Retrieved at: November 24, 2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantitative_research
[Wikipedia, 2003] Trontonian, Qualitative research. Created at: November 18, 2003. Retrieved at: November 24, 2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qualitative_research
[Wikipedia, 2004] Chmod007, Pie Chart. Created at: June 15, 2004. Retrieved at: November 26, 2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pie_chart
http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mepres/book7/bk7i11/bk7_11i1.htm

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