What primary data type does quantitative research analyze?

Quantitative research primarily analyzes numerical data because it focuses on quantifying behaviors, opinions, phenomena, or conditions to understand patterns, relationships, and trends. This type of research uses structured methods such as surveys, experiments, and statistical analyses to collect and interpret data in numerical form. The results can be statistically validated, enabling researchers to make generalizations from a sample population to a broader context.

This contrasts with textual information, which involves unstructured data typically analyzed in qualitative research to gain insights into themes and meanings. Visual data, like graphs and images, may support findings but is not the primary focus of quantitative research. Historical data may provide context, but it does not constitute the numerical analysis core of quantitative methods. Therefore, numerical data is essential for deriving quantifiable insights and making informed decisions based on statistical evidence.