Final answer:
The statement is true; qualitative assessments are based on nonnumerical characteristics such as language, feelings, and impressions, providing rich and subjective data that is often described in words rather than numbers.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, a qualitative assessment indeed is based on characteristics that do not use numerical measures. Qualitative data include nonnumerical data such as language, feelings, or impressions. This type of data is typically collected through observations, interviews, and other methods that allow for rich and detailed responses that can't be easily quantified.
For instance, qualitative data can be the result of categorizing or describing attributes of a population, like hair color, blood type, or ethnic group. These are generally described using words rather than numbers. Qualitative sociology often employs these sorts of data to understand and interpret social phenomena because they capture subjective experiences and perceptions.
Qualitative data is inherently more difficult to organize and analyze than quantitative data, as it can vary widely from person to person, depending on their perspectives and experiences. Moreover, because qualitative data is typically more about observations and interpretations, it can be more time-consuming to collect and is often hard to replicate in different settings or contexts, which is a common challenge in qualitative research.