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 June 23, 2012
 
Word of the Week--"Quantitative"
Definition--Quantitative- adj. having been assigned a distinct, measured value.
Discussion- An important distinction to understand is the the difference between quantitative and qualitative. We often hear the two terms being used to refer to the results of an experiment or study. As an example, let's say that scientists are performing an experiment to determine how mice will react to a certain drug. A quantitative analysis would
include measured, distinct results, whereas a qualitative analysis would use description to highlight the results. In our example, one scientist might include statistics such as number of deaths (3), heart rate increase(34%), sleep duration (2 hrs), weight measure (8 oz.), etc...These would be quantitative, measured results. Another scientist may describe the results by saying that the mice did
not fair well, they became lethargic and irritable, and they appeared to grow smaller. The second scientist mentions no numbers or statistics, only observations. This is a qualitative analysis. My quantitative analysis of this Word of the Week would go something like this: Okay, so maybe I put it on a little thick, but you get the point. Etymology--Quantitative- borrowed from Medieval Latin quantitativus, from Latin quantitas, meaning quantity.
Foreign Translations Dutch:
kwantitatief
French:
quantitatif (-ive)
German:
quantitativ
Italian:
quantitativo
Spanish:
cuantitativo
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