Final answer:
Personal strengths and weaknesses can be empirically tested and are considered positive statements, while normative statements are subjective and based on values or opinions, and thus cannot be proven true or false. Normative opinions often influence policy discussions and are pivotal in understanding economic and social debates.
Step-by-step explanation:
The distinction between personal strengths and weaknesses and normative statements revolves around the ability to empirically test or measure the statements. Personal strengths and weaknesses, also referred to as positive statements in economics, are factual observations about one's abilities or shortcomings that can be tested or proven true or false. On the other hand, normative statements are based on values or opinions and cannot be empirically proven true or false. Such statements are often found in policy discussions where subjective arguments take precedence over objective analysis.
For example, in an economic context, if an economist performs a cost-benefit analysis of a proposed subway system and finds that the expected benefits exceed the costs, this would be an example of positive analysis. Conversely, if another economist promotes extended unemployment compensation during a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic based on the moral viewpoint that a wealthy nation should support its vulnerable citizens, this is normative analysis and is inherently subjective. Strengths-based approaches, like the one advocated by Donald Clifton, emphasize the value of focusing on a person's talents for organizational improvement, although its impact is debated and requires further research.