Which statement best differentiates qualitative and quantitative data?

• A. Qualitative data are numerical values such as length.
• B. Qualitative data describe attributes like color or shape; quantitative data are numerical measurements such as length or mass.
• C. Qualitative data refer to opinions; quantitative data refer to counts only.
• D. Qualitative data can be measured precisely with instruments; quantitative data cannot be measured.

Answer: (B)

This question is about how data are categorized: whether they describe qualities or are expressed as numbers. Qualitative data describe attributes or categories—things you can describe like color, shape, or texture. Quantitative data are numerical measurements that tell you how much or how many, such as length or mass. The statement that best differentiates them captures this distinction: qualitative data describe attributes, while quantitative data are numerical measurements. The other descriptions mix up the ideas—for example, saying qualitative data are numerical is incorrect, and limiting quantitative data to counts only ignores numerical measurements like length or mass.