 What Type Of Research Uses Numeric Measurement Data?

Quantitative research uses numeric measurement data. It uses numeric measurement data in the process of investigating various phenomena, which could be scientific or social. Quantitative data can be collected to reveal patterns and trends in various aspects of a research project. It is easy to compare. The use of numeric measurement data is less subjective than the use of qualitative data, as it provides an actual numeric figure that can be measured, rather than data that can be interpreted in various ways. Of course, research using numeric measurement data has many limitations, and can even be used to misrepresent a case. Usually, it is best to combine qualitative and quantitative methods when carrying out research, to get the broadest result possible.

• Examples of quantitative data research

There are many instances where quantitative data is collected. For instance, an organization may do research into how many cars travel along a road each day. A worker from the organization may count how many cars travel on a daily basis in a week. This could show that on one day in particular the roads are busy, which could lead the organization to conclude traffic calming measures must be needed at this time. However, it may not take into account the fact that on this day another road was closed, as this is a qualitative point. Another example of research involving quantitative research is counting the number of fish left in a sea area each year, to see if this number is changing.

• Qualitative research data

Qualitative research data looks at aspects that are not measureable. For instance, recording the color of a solution in chemistry would be a qualitative point. Noticing a person's mood at a particularly time would also be classed as qualitative data.