qualitative

adj

1. involving distinctions based on qualities

e.g. qualitative change
qualitative data
qualitative analysis determines the chemical constituents of a substance or mixture

2. relating to or involving comparisons based on qualities

1. 质量上的;质的;品质的；性质的
Qualitative means relating to the nature or stardand of something, rather than to its quantity.

e.g. There are qualitative differences in the way children and adults think...
孩子和成年人的思维方式有质的不同。
e.g. That's the whole difference between quantitative and qualitative research.
那就是定量研究和定性研究之间的重大差别。