Qualitative map
Also called: Non-quantitative map · Topic: Graphical Representation of Data and Thematic Maps · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 3 "Graphical Representation of Data"
Meaning
A qualitative map is a thematic map that shows features that cannot be measured in numbers. It shows the kind of thing found in a place, not how much of it there is. For example, it may mark areas only as "high" or "low", or show different types of land use. It is also called a non-quantitative map. It is useful when the point is to show where different categories occur, not to compare exact amounts.
Example
A map of India that marks the Western Ghats coast and the north-east only as "high rainfall" areas, and western Rajasthan only as a "low rainfall" area, is a qualitative map. It gives no figures in centimetres.
Don't confuse with
- A quantitative map shows measured values in set classes, such as over 200 cm or under 50 cm of rainfall. A qualitative map shows only categories or types.