Qualitative vs. Quantitative Methods and Data

While you are encouraged to share information in the order provided above, it is okay to mix things up and present information and engage in discussions about the project by following the lead of the youth team.

It is not imperative for the youth team to fully understand all of the principles of research and data collection. However, a basic understanding of qualitative versus quantitative data can be helpful, especially as they analyze their data. Go over the definitions and distinctions between the two, and answer questions so they can develop a sufficient understanding.

Explanation of Qualitative vs. Quantitative

To keep it simple: qualitative data refers to words, while quantitative data refers to numbers. Qualitative data is what you cannot describe in numbers or measures, while you can count and measure quantitative data.

This data is driven by questions that often begin with “ why ” or “ what. ”

Qualitative Data Example

If youth were to lead a focus group, the worded responses (either the notes taken or a transcription of the word for word discussion) they record would be classified as qualitative data.

If a focus group was asked their opinions on a recently released movie and 5 participants said they liked the movie while 5 participants said they didn ’t, their specific opinions and thoughts about the movie serve as your qualitative data without focusing much on counting the number of people who agreed either way.

Statements like, “I didn ’t like the main character, ” or “The

ending was disappointing and felt anticlimactic,

” all count as qualitative data because they can ’t be counted or numerically measured up against each other and are subjective.

Quantitative Data Example.

This includes the data that is structured, has numbers, and is often answered by questions such as “how many, ” “how much. ” For example, if we take the same responses from the previous question about the movie, we will get quantitative data by categorizing the responses as liked or disliked and then summing those responses.

While giving specific opinions about the movie would be considered qualitative, questions that provoke measured answers provide quantitative data.

If 5 out of 10 participants say they liked the movie and 5 out of 10 participants say they disliked it, then 50% of your focus group members reported liking the movie and 50% reported not liking it. Counting the data numbers is a crucial characteristic of quantitative data.

When the team has collected their data, it will be important to look at the quantitative and qualitative data from different perspectives.

If the youth ask other youth about a possible solution to the identified issue, understanding the team ’ s quantitative and qualitative data can provide more context and information about how to move forward with a solution.

Once the team has a grasp on the basics of qualitative and quantitative data, you can explore the methods of data collection they will be able to choose from.