Observations

Observations relate empirical models to the perceived world, and are of three basic types:

1. Interpretative: relation to meaning and context.
2. Structural: gestalt reconstructions.
3. Empirical: direct observation with the senses.
4. Physical: indirect observation with measuring intstruments, mediated by physical theories.

Any of these observation types can be associated with qualitative or illustrative uses, or with numerical evaluation with statistical methods.