Qualitative Assessments Pros and Cons

Qualitative assessments

Advantages

Constraints

Simpler, requires less resources

Does not enable an accurate or quantified estimate of the impacts of a policy or action to meet a wider set of objectives.

Sometimes sufficient to meet assessment objectives

Can be subjective and uncertain and prone to less reliable results

Can use both quantitative and qualitative data (stakeholders engagement) with additional insights

Can be limited in coverage and thus non-representative of broader conditions or impacts.