Differentiate between qualitative and quantitative data in patient assessment.

• A. Qualitative data are numerical and objective.
• B. Qualitative data are descriptive and subjective; quantitative data are numerical and objective.
• C. Qualitative data are numerical; quantitative are descriptive.
• D. Qualitative data are always biased; quantitative are not.

Answer: (B)

In patient assessment, you distinguish data by how they’re gathered and expressed. Qualitative data are descriptive and subjective—things described in words about how the patient feels, looks, or behaves, such as mood, pain quality (sharp, dull), sleep description, or how a symptom is described. Quantitative data are numerical and objective—measurable values like blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, weight, or lab results.

This distinction matters because qualitative data provide context and meaning from the patient’s perspective, while quantitative data give measurable evidence you can track over time. The statement that captures this accurately is that qualitative data are descriptive and subjective; quantitative data are numerical and objective.