Which term refers to the interpretation of quantitative results involving continuous outcome measures?

The term that refers to the interpretation of quantitative results involving continuous outcome measures is the mean difference. This concept specifically pertains to the average difference between two groups when measuring a continuous variable, making it a crucial statistic in studies that compare outcomes across different groups.

For instance, if a study compares blood pressure levels between a treatment group and a control group, the mean difference would indicate how much lower or higher the average blood pressure is in one group compared to the other. It provides a clear, interpretable measure of effect that is directly related to the continuous nature of the data, showcasing the practical implications of the findings.

In contrast, while effect size is also relevant to quantitative studies, it encompasses broader statistical measures and interpretations beyond just the mean difference. Relative risks are specifically used for categorical outcomes rather than continuous measures. Qualitative results are not quantitative at all, focusing instead on descriptive, non-numeric data. This distinction underlines the importance of knowing which statistical terms apply to the type of data being analyzed.