Quantitative research is often used to test hypotheses, identify patterns, and make predictions. Qualitative research, on the other hand, collects non-numerical data such as words, images, and sounds. The focus is on exploring subjective experiences, opinions, and attitudes, often through observation and interviews.

Quantitative data is anything that can be counted or measured; it refers to numerical data. Qualitative data is descriptive, referring to things that can be observed but not measured—such as colors or emotions.

Qualitative data is non-numerical data that researchers use to interpret how individuals perceive and find meaning in their social reality. Quantitative data is numerical data that analysts use to find relationships between variables and predict results. It provides a conclusive statistical picture behind a trend.

Quantitative research deals with numbers and statistics, while qualitative research deals with words and meanings. Quantitative methods allow you to systematically measure variables and test hypotheses. Qualitative methods allow you to explore concepts and experiences in more detail.

Qualitative data typically consists of words while quantitative data consists of numbers. However, all qualitative data can be coded quantitatively. Anything that is qualitative can be assigned meaningful numerical values. These values can be manipulated to achieve greater insight into the meaning of the data and examine specific hypotheses.