Final answer:
Quantitative data in scientific investigations are numerical information that can be divided into discrete or continuous types, often accompanied by units of measurement, and analyzed statistically.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a scientific investigation, the term "quantitative data" refers to numbers that are usually followed by units of measurement and can be categorized into two types: discrete and continuous data. Quantitative data represent research collected in numerical form that can be counted and analyzed using statistical methods, making them integral in scientific fields such as quantitative sociology. For example, data collected through surveys with large numbers of participants are often quantitative. Discrete data, like the number of classes you take per school year, are countable and take on only certain numerical values. On the other hand, continuous data might include fractions or decimals and result from measurements such as length, weight, or time.
Scientific measurements related to quantitative data include both certain digits and an estimated last digit, known as significant figures. Quantitative data can help researchers understand trends, such as the number of books students carry, which is an example of discrete data, or the weights of sumo wrestlers, which is an example of continuous data. A questionnaire that asks yes-or-no or multiple-choice questions and tallies answers into percentages is a common way to collect quantitative data in social science.