Marketing Research and Insight Glossary

Definitions, common uses and explanations of 1,500+ key market research terms and phrases.

What is a Quantitative variable?

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Quantitative variable Definition

A variable whose values are numerical in nature. Examples include weight, age, income, etc. Quantitative variables are further classified as being either discrete or continuous.

A quantitative variable in marketing research refers to a variable that can be measured numerically and expresses a quantity, such as income, age, purchase frequency or satisfaction rating. These variables allow researchers to perform statistical analyses to identify trends, relationships and differences among groups.

What are key aspects of quantitative variables in marketing research?

  • Numerical in nature (e.g., dollars, percentages, counts).
  • Can be continuous (e.g., time spent shopping) or discrete (e.g., number of purchases).
  • Enables mathematical operations and statistical modeling.
  • Often used in surveys and experiments.
  • Supports tracking, comparison and forecasting.

Why are quantitative variables important in market research?

Quantitative variables are important because they provide the foundation for measurable, data-driven insights. They allow researchers to quantify consumer behavior, track changes over time, test hypotheses and produce results that can be generalized to larger populations.

Who relies on quantitative variables in marketing research?

  • Data analysts and statisticians.
  • Market research firms.
  • Product managers and brand teams.
  • Customer insights professionals.
  • Academic and commercial researchers.

How do market researchers use quantitative variables?

Market researchers use quantitative variables to segment audiences, measure performance indicators, test relationships between variables and build predictive models. These variables inform decisions on pricing, promotion, product development and overall marketing strategy.