Which of the following is a true statement of observational data?
a. It is always qualitative, not quantitative.
b. It is used to form hypotheses, but not to test them.
c. It can include comparisons of fossils as well as DNA sequences.
d. It is the type of data used for the independent variable in a controlled experiment.

Question

Which of the following is a true statement of observational data?

a. It is always qualitative, not quantitative.

b. It is used to form hypotheses, but not to test them.

c. It can include comparisons of fossils as well as DNA sequences.

d. It is the type of data used for the independent variable in a controlled experiment.

Accepted Answer

Hey everyone, let's take a look at this question. Together quantitative observations have more accuracy than qualitative observations. Because in quantitative observations the variables are what So let's think about what we know about quantitative observations versus qualitative observations and figure out the variables that they focus on and then use that to determine our answer. So when we're dealing with quantitative we can see we have quant or quantity meaning that it has to deal with those numbers and then qualitative has to deal with quality. So more towards descriptions of stuff. So when we're talking about quantitative we know that it can be recorded numerically because we're dealing with number data so it can be recorded numerically. And because of that quantitative data is measurable, meaning that we can determine the data by measuring and we also know that it depends on fixed variables, meaning that some of the numbers that we are recording are influenced by stuff that we can control. So it depends on fixed variables. Now on the other side when we're talking about qualitative or the quality meaning the description of stuff, we have to use our five senses. And so it relies on those five senses as well as the functions. So we know smell, sight, taste, hear, touch. And then we know that because it has to do with the quality of something in us describing it, that the data cannot be measured since there are no numerical values being recorded. And so because we know that quantitative data can be measurable, we know that answer choice C. Is incorrect. And then because we know it's measurable and more objective, meaning that it depends on those fixed variables, we know that answer choice D. Has to be the correct answer because A. And B. Are correct while C. Is incorrect, since we're dealing with those quantitative observations versus the qualitative. And so answer choice D. Is the correct answer. I hope you found this video to be helpful. Thank you and goodbye.

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Key Concepts

Observational Data

Hypothesis Formation and Testing

Comparative Analysis in Biology