Measurement

(Quantitative) (1) act or process of assigning a number or category to an entity to describe an attribute of that entity; (2) assignment of numbers to objects in a systematic way to represent properties of the object; (3) use of a metric to assign a value (e.g., a number or category) from a scale to an attribute of an entity; (4) set of operations having the object of determining a value of a measure; (5) assignment of values and labels to aspects of software engineering work products, processes, and resources plus the models that are derived from them, whether these models are developed using statistical or other techniques; (6) figure, extent, or amount obtained by measuring

Qualitative measurement engages research methods and techniques to provide information about the nature of phenomenon. Qualitative methods are designed for systematic collection, organization, description and interpretation of non-numeric (textual, verbal or visual) data (Hammarberg et. al, 2016). Qualitative measurement generally answers questions about why, for whom, when, and how something is (or is not) observed, whereas quantitative measurement answers questions about what is observed. Elements assessed using qualitative measurement may include contextual norms or meaning, socio-cultural dynamics, individual or collective beliefs, and complex multi-component interactions or interventions (Busetto et. al, 2020).

(Qualitative) (1) a way of learning about social reality [...][that uses] approaches [...] to explore, describe, or explain social phenomen[a]; unpack the meaning people ascribe to activities, situations, events, or [artifacts]; build a depth of understanding about some aspect of social life; build "thick descriptions" (see Clifford Geertz, 1973) of people in naturalistic settings; explore new or underresearched areas; or make micro-macro links (illuminate connections between individuals-groups and institutional and/or cultural contexts). (2) [approaches that] can make visible and unpick the mechanisms which link particular variables, by looking at the explanations, or accounts, provided by those involved.

Documentation of assumptions and methods used is a foundational element of qualitative measurement, as the choice of single or combined methods is made based on the phenomenon and its context (Russell & Gregory, 2003). When appropriately paired, qualitative and quantitative measurement can provide corroboration or elaboration, demonstrate use cases, and/or identify conditions for complementarity or contradiction (Brannen, 2005).