laadullisesti

Laadullisesti is a Finnish adverb meaning “in terms of quality” or “qualitatively.” It is derived from the adjective laadullinen (qualitative) and contrasts with määrällisesti (quantitatively). The term is commonly used in research, evaluation, and discussions that focus on attributes, meanings, or quality aspects rather than numerical counts.

In research contexts, laadullisesti describes a qualitative approach. Qualitative research (laadullinen tutkimus) seeks to understand phenomena through meanings, experiences, and context. Data are typically gathered by interviews, observations, and document or content analysis and analyzed to produce descriptive, interpretive insights. Phrases such as “laadullisesti kerättyä dataa” or “laadullisesti analysoitua tietoa” are common. By contrast, määrällisesti refers to analyses based on numbers and statistics.

Laadullisesti can also appear in general language to describe how something is evaluated or considered. For example, “laadullisesti parempi” conveys a judgment about quality rather than quantity, and “laadullisesti tarkasteltuna” indicates an assessment from a quality-oriented perspective. The term thus has both formal research usage and broader applicability in discussions about quality attributes.

Limitations and evaluation: Qualitative work emphasizes depth and context, which can involve subjective interpretation. Rigorous qualitative practice addresses reliability and validity through credibility, transferability, auditability, and reflexivity, often including techniques such as triangulation and thick description. Mixed-methods designs may integrate qualitative findings with quantitative data to provide a fuller picture.

Usage: Laadullisesti is part of Finnish scientific and evaluative vocabulary and is also used in business and media to discuss quality characteristics of products, services, or processes.