Which type of data is descriptive rather than numeric?

• A. Qualitative data is descriptive; quantitative data is numeric.
• B. Quantitative data is descriptive; qualitative data is numeric.
• C. Qualitative data is subjective; quantitative data is objective.
• D. Quantitative data can be used for forecasting.

Answer: (A)

Qualitative data describes attributes, qualities, or categories using words or labels, while quantitative data uses numbers to measure and quantify things. Since the question asks which type of data is descriptive rather than numeric, the best answer is that qualitative data is descriptive and quantitative data is numeric. For example, saying a product comes in red, blue, or green describes qualitative aspects, whereas reporting its length as 12 cm or its weight as 5 kg is quantitative.

The other statements don’t fit the distinction. Reversing the idea would claim qualitative data is numeric, which isn’t correct. A claim about subjectivity versus objectivity shifts the focus away from whether the data are described with words versus numbers. A note about forecasting speaks to how data are used, not the inherent nature of the data themselves.