quantitative

quantitative — adjective

1. relating to the measurable size, amount, or number of something, rather than its

1.形容詞B2
釋義

relating to the measurable size, amount, or number of something, rather than its type or quality — for example, a quantitative change tells you how much something has increased or decreased, not how it has changed in nature.

例句

The marketing team reviewed quantitative data from the latest customer survey.

collocation: quantitative data

Kofi found a clear quantitative difference between this year's harvest and last year's.

同義詞
  • numerical

    more general; 'numerical data' simply means data in number form, while 'quantitative data' suggests the data is used for measurement or analysis

  • measurable

    focuses on the ability to be measured rather than the act of measuring; 'measurable progress' is possible but 'quantitative progress' sounds odd

  • statistical

    narrower — refers specifically to data analyzed through statistics, while 'quantitative' covers any number-based description

反義詞
  • qualitative

    the direct opposite; qualitative information describes qualities or types, while quantitative measures amounts or counts

文法句型

quantitative + noun (data, analysis, change, difference)

用法筆記

Overwhelmingly used before a noun (attributive position). Common in business, science, and academic writing. The noun it modifies is almost always abstract (data, change, analysis, difference) rather than concrete.

常見錯誤

❌We need quantitive data to make a decision.
✅We need quantitative data to make a decision.
💡'Quantitative' is the correct spelling; 'quantitive' is a common misspelling.
❌The quantitative of students increased.
✅The number of students increased.
💡'Quantitative' is an adjective, not a noun. Use 'quantity' or 'number' instead.

2. using numerical measurement and statistical methods as a deliberate system for s

2.形容詞B2
釋義

using numerical measurement and statistical methods as a deliberate system for studying or describing something — for example, a quantitative study counts how many people hold a certain opinion, while a qualitative study asks them to explain their views in their own words.

例句

The university offers courses in both quantitative and qualitative research methods.

contrast with 'qualitative'

Lan chose a quantitative approach for her study on customer satisfaction.

collocation: quantitative approach

同義詞
  • statistical

    narrower — quantitative methods may or may not involve statistical testing; 'statistical methods' always do

  • empirical

    broader — empirical research can be either quantitative or qualitative; quantitative is one type of empirical approach

反義詞
  • qualitative

    the opposite research paradigm; qualitative research explores meaning and experience through interviews, observations, and text analysis rather than numbers

文法句型

quantitative + noun (research, method, approach, study, survey)

用法筆記

Frequently paired with 'qualitative' to describe two main research paradigms. A study can use both approaches together — this is called 'mixed methods.' This sense is especially common in social sciences, education, and market research.

常見錯誤

❌We did a quantitative research.
✅We did quantitative research.
💡'Research' is an uncountable noun and does not take 'a' before it.
❌Quantitative methods are more better than qualitative ones.
✅Quantitative methods are more objective than qualitative ones.
💡Quantitative methods aim for objectivity through numbers, but are not inherently 'better'; avoid comparative grammar errors ('more better').