Review It

When conducting research to answer a question, you are likely to come across two forms of information, qualitative and quantitative.

Let’s review these forms of information and some examples of each.

Qualitative

Quantitative

Describes something in words

Data or information is observed but cannot be measured

Describes something in numbers

Data or information is observed and measured

Examples:

Newspaper articles
Interviews
Diaries or journals
Photographs

Examples:

Charts
Graphs
Measurements
Numbers


Maryland Voter Turnout for the 2014  Primary Election

Qualitative Information

voters at voting booths

This news story from WBAL-TV covered the 2014 primary election.
Source: WBAL-TVopens in new window
caption saying Low, but steady turnout seen at Maryland Polls
This news headline appeared in the Baltimore Sun.
Source: Baltimore Sunopens in new window

 

Quantitative Information

This table shows voter turnout by county in the state of Maryland in the 2014 primary elections.

(Source: Maryland State Board of Elections: Total Voter Turnout in the 2014 Primary Election)

> View larger image

The bar graph provides information about voting patterns of registered Democrat voters in the years of 1990, 194, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014. The bar with the darker color indicates the registered democrats who voted and the lighter color of the bar indicates the total number of registered Democratic voters.

The line graph provides information about the percentage of registered Democrat voters who voted in the 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2014 election years.

The charts above show declining voter turnout among registered democrats in the Maryland primary elections.

(Sources: Maryland State Board of Elections: Statewide Voter Turnout for Primary Elections by Year)

> View larger image: Bar Graph

> View larger image: Line Graph

Tip

When conducting research, you need to compare the qualitative and quantitative sources of information in order to connect significant details and ideas for you to draw conclusions.