Illiana did an historical/comparative of college yearbooks over a 30-year time period. her particular goal was to take on the circumstances, views, and feelings of those she studied so that she could interpret their lives appropriately. it would be best to use

verstehen.  

Explanation:

              In German, the term "verstehen" means to understand something very clearly or deeply. In psychology, this a behavioral study or understanding where the person who is experimenting or researching wants to understand other people's experience.

            Verstehent is important according to Max Weber to understand how things work at the society at larger level.

             In the context, Illiana wishes to experience the lives of what she have studied during the historical/comparative of college yearbooks over a 30-year time period.

Thus the answer is ---

verstehen.  

answer; silence;