Which of the following statements is normative?
Select one:
a. Scientists should not make normative statements.
b. Warts are caused by handling toads.
C. As e-book prices fall, people buy more of them.
d. If income increases, sales of luxury goods fall.
e. There is more caffeine in a cup of tea than in a cup
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
Among the provided statements, option (a) “Scientists should not make normative statements” is normative. This is because it expresses an opinion or value judgment about the role of scientists, indicating what they ought to do, rather than stating a fact that can be tested or observed.
Explanation:
In economics and other social sciences, statements are categorized as either positive or normative. Positive statements are descriptive and based on observable phenomena; they can be tested and validated through empirical evidence. For example, “As e-book prices fall, people buy more of them” is a positive statement because it describes a relationship that can be observed and measured.
Normative statements, on the other hand, involve value judgments and prescribe how things should be. They are subjective and cannot be tested or proven true or false. For instance, “Scientists should not make normative statements” reflects a perspective on the conduct of scientists, suggesting a standard or expectation without empirical verification.
Analysis of Each Statement:
- (a) “Scientists should not make normative statements.”
- Normative: This advises scientists on what they ought to do, based on a particular viewpoint about their role.
- (b) “Warts are caused by handling toads.”
- Positive: This is a testable claim about the relationship between handling toads and the development of warts.
- (c) “As e-book prices fall, people buy more of them.”
- Positive: This describes a measurable economic behavior that can be analyzed with data.
- (d) “If income increases, sales of luxury goods fall.”
- Positive: This presents a hypothesis about consumer behavior that can be examined through observation and data.
- (e) “There is more caffeine in a cup of tea than in a cup of coffee.”
- Positive: This is a factual statement that can be verified by measuring caffeine content.
Understanding the distinction between positive and normative statements is crucial in economics and other disciplines. Positive statements help describe and predict phenomena based on empirical evidence, while normative statements involve subjective opinions about how things should be. Recognizing this difference aids in clarifying discussions and analyses, especially when formulating policies or recommendations.