Nursing Resources: Qualitative vs Quantitative. Quantitative research, also called empirical research, refers to any research based on something that can be accurately and precisely measured.
Noun. 1. index-a numerical scale used to compare variables with one another or with some reference number. margin of error, margin of safety, safety margin-the margin required in order to insure safety; in engineering the margin of safety is the strength of the material minus the anticipated stress.
1 Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of relative size based on the mass and height of an individual. 2  The Quetelet Index was devised by Adolphe Quetelet, a Belgian mathematician, astronomer and statistician, in 1832. 3  It was later termed body mass index in 1972 by Ancel Keys.