Why did Steinman emphasize empirical analysis in political science?
I believed that robust empirical analysis was crucial for advancing our understanding of politics beyond mere speculation. Theories about democracy and political behavior, no matter how elegant, must be rigorously tested against real-world data. My approach, as seen in 'Measuring Democracy: An Empirical Approach,' involved developing and applying quantitative methods to discern causal relationships and avoid confirmation bias. This allows us to build a more reliable and objective body of knowledge.
Ask Ralph Steinman the follow-up →