Variables can be quantitative or qualitative. (Qualitative variables are sometimes called "categorical variables.") Quantitative variables are measured on an ordinal, interval, or ratio scale; qualitative variables are measured on a nominal scale. If five-year old subjects were asked to name their favorite color, then the variable would be qualitative. If the time it took them to respond were measured, then the variable would be quantitative. In brief, a qualitative variable is not measurable with numerical instruments but with adjectives that do not imply ranking or scales (i.e. gender, colors, taste, etc.) A quantitative variable is measurable with numerical instruments and can be ordered in a quantifiable ranking (i.e. the height of a person). Through the following table you will be able to differentiate them very easily:
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