Quantitative and qualitative are two terms that have various differences. Quantitative is related to the quantity of an object or person, while qualitative is related to the quality or attribute of an object or person. In simple terms, qualitative refers to quality, and quantitative refers to a number. This article aims to provide a better understanding of the differences between these words.
What is Quantitative?
Quantitative is related to the quantity of an object or person, which can be counted or measured. It can refer to aspects such as height, weight, size, and length. Quantitative is objective, meaning there can only be one interpretation of it, unlike qualitative, which can have multiple interpretations. Quantitative is something that can be measured but not experienced.
Quantitative terms are used in scientific procedures mainly involving objects. Some words used to describe anything quantitative include hot, cold, long, short, fast, slow, large, small, many, few, heavy, light, near, far, etc. A closer look at these words highlights the difference between qualitative and quantitative.
When someone says, “This metal is heavy,” the word ‘heavy’ is used in a quantitative sense, emphasizing that quantitative terms are scientific in nature. Now let’s move on to qualitative.
What is Qualitative?
A quality is a property or attribute that a person or object possesses. Thus, it is used to describe an object or person. In contrast to quantitative, qualitative is subjective, meaning it cannot be measured but only experienced. Qualitative terms are used in forms of appreciation, such as poetry, literature, and music. In other words, qualitative is associated with creativity, while quantitative is associated with practicality.
Some words used to describe anything qualitative include good, useless, ugly, beautiful, hard, soft, boring, fascinating, interesting, filthy, neat, dark, pale, wonderful, colorful, evil, angelic, etc.
When someone says, “The girl has a beautiful face,” the word ‘beautiful’ is used in a qualitative sense. This highlights that qualitative and quantitative words describe contrasting attributes of an object or person.
Key Takeaways
- Quantitative is related to the quantity of an object or person and is objective, while qualitative is related to the quality or attribute of an object or person and is subjective.
- Quantitative terms are used in scientific procedures primarily involving objects, while qualitative terms are used in forms of appreciation, such as poetry, literature, and music.
- Examples of quantitative words include hot, cold, long, short, fast, slow, large, small, many, few, heavy, light, near, far, etc., while examples of qualitative words are good, useless, ugly, beautiful, hard, soft, boring, fascinating, interesting, filthy, neat, dark, pale, wonderful, colorful, evil, angelic, etc.
