Qualitative versus quantitative models: the distinction between qualitative and quantitative analysis has different meanings in different disciplines. In the social sciences, quantitative analysis aims at developing mathematical models and investigates empirically social phenomena and their relationships. Quantitative research requires the collection of quantitative data and measurable information, and involves testing theoretical predictions and hypotheses on the available empirical data set. Qualitative analysis, instead, focuses on case studies, and collects qualitative information through participant observations in experiments, interviews, surveys, and case studies. The results obtained by researchers adopting a qualitative approach cannot be generalized, contrary to some of those obtained through quantitative methods. However, qualitative data is rich and better able to describe contextual details. There is considerable debate as to whether quantitative methods are superior to qualitative methods in the social sciences. Researchers in favor of quantitative analysis argue that such methods are the only ones that reflect a truly scientific approach. Researchers in favor of qualitative models argue, on the contrary, that qualitative analysis is better able to capture the complexity of social phenomena, which could be excessively simplified under quantitative analysis. In law and economics modeling, the qualitative versus quantitative distinction acquires a different meaning (both of which would fall under the heading of “quantitative analysis,” as used in the social sciences). Qualitative economic models are mathematical models that use generic variables (often represented with letters or symbols, rather than real numbers) that can take on any numerical value, and use implicit functional forms that do not stipulate any specific functional relationship between the variables. The use of qualitative mathematical models to formulate the problem can produce more general results. However, at times the results reached with a qualitative model are indeterminate.