Final answer:
Student ID numbers are considered quantitative data, specifically quantitative discrete, because they use numbers as identifiers but do not hold a measurable value. These are often used in social science research along with qualitative data, which provides descriptive non-numeric information.
Step-by-step explanation:
Student ID numbers are considered quantitative data. Although they are represented with numbers, they are used as identifiers and do not hold numeric value in terms of measurement or count, making them a special type of quantitative data called 'quantitative discrete'. In the context of social sciences, this type of data is often used alongside qualitative data to perform research. While quantitative data are the result of counting or measuring attributes of a population and are numerical, qualitative data are descriptive and pertain to characteristics that are not numeric, such as opinions or colors.
Surveys can collect both types of data. For example, demographics provide quantitative discrete data that can include student ID numbers, age, or gender, which can be analyzed statistically. Simultaneously, surveys may ask open-ended questions that generate qualitative data, which captures descriptive information that can reveal more about behaviors, attitudes, and other subjective measures. Even though numbers categorize student IDs, they do not express a measure or quantity related to the student, which is why they do not qualify as quantitative continuous data.
Mixing both qualitative and quantitative data helps researchers get a full picture of their study subject, especially in fields like quantitative sociology, where both statistical methods and descriptive analyses are important.