For example every continuous quest will give 0,5% of required XP to level up (except for 'Time to Booze' and 'Blood Compound' which will give 1,5% and 1,33% respectively), example: A level 57 player (6958069 - 6123454 XP) will receive the difference between the XP that will be needed to level up (in this case '6958069') minus the XP that was needed to reach the current level (in this case '6123454'). After completing the campaign, the XP reward changes and it's based on the player's level.
Quests are missions that are given out by survivors or triggered by visiting different locations and picking up quest items in Dead Island and Dead Island: Riptide.