What is quantitative observation?

• A. An observation that deals with a number or amount.
• B. An observation that deals with characteristics that cannot be expressed in numbers.
• C. A well-tested concept that explains a wide range of observations.
• D. A study of weather patterns.

Answer: (A)

Quantitative observation is data that involves numbers and measurements—data that can be counted or measured with units. That’s why it fits an observation that deals with a number or amount: you can express it with a specific quantity. Qualitative observation describes qualities that can’t be expressed with numbers, like color or texture. A well-tested concept that explains a wide range of observations is a theory, not an observation type. Studying weather patterns is meteorology, a field of study, not a type of observation.