The word "qualitative" is spelled with a "qu" at the beginning, followed by "alitative." The "qu" in English represents a "kw" sound, and the "alitative" portion is pronounced with the stress on the second syllable. Therefore, the word is pronounced /ˈkwɒl.ɪ.tə.tɪv/ in IPA phonetic transcription. Qualitative refers to the characteristics of something without numerical measurement, and can be used in various disciplines like research, marketing, and psychology.
Qualitative refers to the characteristic or attribute that is distinguished by its qualities rather than its quantity or numerical value. It pertains to the characteristics or properties of something that can be observed, described, or evaluated subjectively, often through non-numerical data or subjective experiences.
In the realm of research and data analysis, qualitative methods or research involve collecting and analyzing non-numerical data, such as interviews, observations, or textual sources, to capture the depth and richness of human experiences, opinions, or behaviors. They explore subjective meanings, motives, and interpretations, aiming to understand the underlying aspects of a phenomenon rather than quantifying it.
In the context of product or service evaluations, qualitative measures focus on subjective assessments, judgments, or opinions rather than precise measurements. They may involve criteria like the overall quality, usability, aesthetics, or user satisfaction. Qualitative market research techniques are often employed to gather insights into consumer preferences, emotions, or motivations.
When it comes to qualitative descriptions, they emphasize the inherent properties, features, or qualities of something rather than its precise measurements or technical specifications. In literature or art, qualitative analyses may examine stylistic choices, themes, or symbolism.
Overall, qualitative denotes a subjective, descriptive, or interpretive approach that aims to understand and explore the inherent qualities, experiences, and meanings of a phenomenon, distinguishing it from quantitative methods and measurements.
Relating to quality and not quantity.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Connected with or relating to quality; in chem. analysis, intended merely to determine the nature or the names of component parts.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "qualitative" is borrowed from the Latin term "qualitas", which means "quality" or "character". It is derived from the Latin adjective "qualis", meaning "of what kind" or "of what sort". The term "qualitative" was formed in English during the early 19th century and has been used to describe something related to the quality or nature of a thing rather than its quantity or measurement.