Please note: The FAME glossary is not intended to be a completely comprehensive index of all disabilities or disability-related terminology. For a more complete listing, please consult the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), or the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition, Text Revised (DSM-IV TR), available in libraries and bookstores nationwide. Alternatively, you may also consult resources from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) or National Institutes of Health (NIH) publications. Please also see our Supplemental Resources pages in the Rights and Responsibilities module for more information.
Qualitative
In research, data or methods used that are not standardized and in which variables cannot be assigned discrete values with set intervals on a continuum in relation to zero. An example would be open-ended questions on an interview in which a respondent (see definition) is asked for his or her opinion on a topic; responses can have an almost infinite range because they are based on the unique experiences and history of the individual. Other common examples are race, ethnicity, and gender.top
Quantitative
In research, data or methods used that are objective and/or numeric and/or standardized in nature; variables can be assigned discrete values with set intervals on a continuum in relation to zero, for example, height, weight, and Grade Point Average (GPA).top
