Introduction
In social sciences, there are two terms that hold significance: normative and empirical. Normative statements are judgmental and suggest how things should be, while empirical statements are informative and based on facts. In economics, both normative and empirical theories are important. Empirical statements are objective and factual, while normative statements are subjective and value-based. Normative statements cannot be proven, while empirical statements can.
In brief, empirical science presents facts and information that can be proven, while normative statements are subjective and judgmental.
Key Takeaways
1. Normative statements are judgmental, while empirical statements are informative and based on facts.
2. Normative statements pose questions about how things should be, while empirical statements state the facts without passing judgment.
3. Empirical statements are objective and provable, while normative statements are subjective and cannot be proved.
