Question

what is a qualitative obserbation?

Answer 1

Qualitative research is one of the two major approaches to research methodology in social sciences. Qualitative research involves an indepth understanding of human behaviour and the reasons that govern human behaviour. Unlike quantitative research, qualitative research relies on reasons behind various aspects of behaviour. Simply put, it investigates the why and how of decision making, as compared to what, where, and when of quantitative research. Hence, the need is for smaller but focused samples rather than large random samples, which qualitative research categorizes data into patterns as the primary basis for organizing and reporting results.

Answer 2

I don't think he's talking about Social Sciences, I think he means qualitative observations in the broader sense, e.g. observations of characteristics, like, "Copper Sulfate emits a smell similar to X as it is heated" or "Copper Sulfate turns Yellow upon heating", something of the sort that's not numerical in nature.