Nonquantity

Nonquantity is a term used to describe phenomena that cannot be accurately expressed or manipulated as numerical quantities. It stands in contrast to quantity, which denotes measurable magnitude, count, or extent.

The concept appears across disciplines such as philosophy, social sciences, and business, and covers aspects like meaning, value, aesthetics, emotion, culture, and the qualitative side of experience that resist precise measurement.

Researchers study nonquantities with qualitative methods such as interviews, observations, case studies, discourse analysis, and narrative inquiry. They may use proxies or descriptors to discuss nonquantities, and often employ mixed-methods to complement numerical data with descriptive evidence.

Applications include policy evaluation, marketing and user experience, health outcomes where patient-reported experiences matter, and cultural or educational interventions where qualitative impact is central.

Although useful, the term is informal and its boundaries vary by field, which can complicate cross-disciplinary communication.