Qualitative
ˈkwɒlɪteɪtɪv
Definitions
Describing something based on its qualities, characteristics, or properties rather than its numerical measurement.
ˈkwɒlɪteɪtɪv
Relating to, measuring, or characterized by the quality or qualities of something rather than its quantity.
The study used qualitative data from interviews to understand the motivations of the participants.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're describing a piece of art. Instead of saying how big it is (quantity), you'd say how beautiful it is (quality). Qualitative means describing things based on how they *are*, not how *much* there is.
👶 For kids: When you describe how something feels, like if it's soft or rough, you're talking about its quality! That's what 'qualitative' means.
More Examples
Qualitative research provides rich, detailed insights into complex phenomena.
We need to conduct a qualitative assessment to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the program.
How It's Used
"Qualitative research methods involve in-depth interviews and observations, focusing on understanding experiences."
"A qualitative analysis of customer feedback provided valuable insights into product preferences."
"Qualitative data, such as patient descriptions of pain, complements quantitative measurements like blood pressure."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
Qualitative leap
A significant improvement or change in the nature or characteristics of something, as opposed to a gradual increase.
"The new technology represented a qualitative leap forward in production efficiency."
From Latin *quālitās* (quality) + -ive (suffix), indicating pertaining to or of the nature of quality.
The term began to gain traction in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in the context of social sciences and statistics, as a means to differentiate research based on qualities from research focused on quantities.
Memory tip
Think of the "quality" of something. Is it good or bad, smooth or rough, etc.?
Word Origin
"quality, nature"