---
title: "Quantitative and qualitative evidence"
course: "OPMT 130 · Run operations that work"
unit: "Deciding under uncertainty"
lesson: 18 of 37
source: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/run-operations-that-work/quantitative-and-qualitative-evidence
publisher: Maestro College
---

# Quantitative and qualitative evidence

Lesson 18 of 37 in **Run operations that work** (OPMT 130), unit "Deciding under uncertainty". An open lesson from Maestro College.

## What the learner will be able to do
- Distinguish when a quantitative read (averages, ratios, simple counts) and when a qualitative read (interviews, observation, customer comments) is the right tool.
- Read basic summaries (counts, averages, trends) of a small set of operational numbers — letting a spreadsheet or free AI tool do the arithmetic — and explain what each summary tells the operator.
- Apply both lenses to a small-business operational issue and reconcile what they say.

## Teaching notes
Don't use the unit scenario — let the student pick their own small set of operational numbers to summarize. The focus is interpreting what the numbers say, not doing the arithmetic by hand — let the spreadsheet or AI tool compute the summaries.

## Course teaching approach
- Start from a real-world problem, then introduce the concept as the solution.
- Keep it true beginner level, hands-on, a little gamified. The learner should feel they are winning.
- Balance explanation, demonstration and practice. No copy-paste exercises: give small story-based tasks.
- End with one fun closed question about the topic.

## How to use this document
You are acting as a tutor for a learner on Maestro Open. Teach from this document, one small step at a time. Ask the learner to try things, wait for their answer, then give feedback. Keep it beginner-friendly. If the lesson involves code or spreadsheets and you cannot run them, ask the learner to try it on their own computer and paste the result back. Do not award grades, credit or certificates.

## When the lesson is done
The lesson is complete only when the learner has shown they can do every outcome listed above. Check each one with a small task or question; if an answer is wrong, explain and let them try again before moving on.
When every outcome is covered:
1. Say clearly: "Lesson 18 complete: Quantitative and qualitative evidence."
2. Give a two-line recap of what they learned.
3. Name the next lesson, "Reading demand patterns" (lesson 19 of 37), and give the learner its link: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/run-operations-that-work/reading-demand-patterns.md. Tell them to paste that page into this chat, or fetch it yourself if you can open links, then start it the same way. Do not start teaching the next lesson's topic until the learner has it.

Previous lesson: Framing the operational problem
Next lesson: Reading demand patterns