Question

Which of the following is an example of qualitative data?

A) The contents of the stomach are mixed every 20 seconds.
B) The fish swam in a zigzag motion.
C) The six pairs of robins hatched an average of three chicks.
D) The temperature decreased from 20°C to 15°C.
E) The plant's height is 25 centimeters (cm).

Answer 1

From the options given, the qualitative data example is 'The fish swam in a zigzag motion'. This observation describes the behavior of the fish without quantifying it with numbers, making it qualitative data.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is asking which of the following is an example of qualitative data:

• The contents of the stomach are mixed every 20 seconds.
• The fish swam in a zigzag motion.
• The six pairs of robins hatched an average of three chicks.
• The temperature decreased from 20°C to 15°C.
• The plant's height is 25 centimeters (cm).

Qualitative data are non-numerical and used to categorize or describe attributes. They describe characteristics that are observed and cannot be measured with numbers. An example of qualitative data would be the colors of backpacks, the type of car you drive, or the type of calculator you use. Comparatively, quantitative data include measurements and are expressed with numbers, such as the plant's height or the temperature change.

From the options provided, the example that represents qualitative data is "The fish swam in a zigzag motion." This description details the behavior of the fish without using numbers, thus it categorizes the fish's movement qualitatively.