Which of the following is a characteristic of qualitative research methods?

Qualitative research methods are distinguished by their emphasis on understanding the complexity and richness of human experiences in specific contexts. This approach is characterized by an aim to gain deep insights into participants' perspectives, feelings, and behaviors, rather than quantifying data or measuring variables statistically.

Focusing on contextual understanding allows researchers to explore the meanings that individuals attach to their experiences and the social or cultural factors that influence these experiences. Such an emphasis fosters a comprehensive narrative that captures the nuances of human behavior, which is a hallmark of qualitative research.

The other options reflect characteristics more aligned with quantitative research methods, which prioritize statistical analysis, generalizability from larger sample sizes, and rigid hypothesis testing. This highlights how qualitative research is fundamentally oriented towards depth of understanding over breadth of data.