Qualitative data

Qualitative data describe qualities, categories, experiences, or meanings rather than measuring quantities. They may take forms such as words, images, observations, or categorical labels.

Quantitative data: Data expressed as numbers that measure amounts, counts, or magnitudes. Its numerical measurements mark the central distinction from qualitative data.
Qualitative research: An approach to inquiry that studies meanings, experiences, and social processes using non-numerical evidence. It uses qualitative data to investigate how people interpret and experience the world.
Transcription (linguistics): The conversion of spoken language into a written representation. Interview and discussion recordings often become text before qualitative analysis.
Statistical data: Data organized or analyzed using statistical methods, often to summarize or model numerical variation. Statistical summaries usually focus on numerical patterns rather than descriptive meanings.
Categorical variable: A variable whose values identify groups or categories rather than numerical quantities. Categories are a common form of qualitative data, even when encoded with numbers.
Semi-structured interview: An interview guided by prepared questions while allowing flexible follow-up. Its open responses produce detailed accounts rather than fixed numerical measurements.
Qualitative coding: The process of assigning labels to segments of qualitative material to organize and interpret them. Codes help researchers compare recurring ideas across descriptive data.
Likert scale: A response scale that records degrees of agreement, frequency, or evaluation across ordered choices. Its verbal options are categorical, but researchers often treat the resulting scores as quantitative.
Nominal scale: A measurement scale that classifies observations into categories without ordering them. It describes qualitative categories whose labels have no inherent ranking.
Focus group: A facilitated group discussion used to explore participants’ views and experiences. Discussion generates descriptive data through both individual contributions and group interaction.

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