Here's why:
* Qualitative observations describe qualities, characteristics, and features using words. They focus on the "what" of an observation, using subjective descriptions like colors, shapes, textures, sounds, smells, and behaviors.
* Quantitative observations, on the other hand, use numbers and measurements. They focus on the "how much" or "how many" of an observation, using objective data like length, weight, volume, temperature, or counts.
Examples of qualitative observations:
* "The flower is a vibrant shade of red with velvety petals."
* "The music was loud and energetic, making the crowd dance."
* "The dog was playful and wagged its tail excitedly."
Examples of quantitative observations:
* "The flower is 5 centimeters in diameter."
* "The music was playing at 90 decibels."
* "The dog ran at a speed of 10 meters per second."
So, while both types of observations are important in scientific inquiry, qualitative observations rely heavily on descriptive words to paint a picture of what is being observed.