The debate about the best way to measure, interpret and classify human experience, either using internal frames of reference or external frames of reference, has been well documented in the sociological and psychological literature. There are those who argue that using more traditional, empirical methods for gauging and evaluating the human condition is a better way for us to understand and draw conclusions about our humanness. On the other side of the argument there are those who say without assessing and measuring the subjective dimensions of human experience, the solely empirical approach will simply offer a limited perspective in terms of what is going on. As a result, different branches of research have been established, largely falling into two camps. These are positivism and interpretivism. Read more…
