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How does political science use evidence and empirical research?

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Rubbing of Chinese philosopher Confucius in traditional robes with a long beard, based on a design attributed to Wu Tao-hsuan, with Chinese characters above and beside the figure. — political science Stone rubbing (19th century?) of Confucius from a design attributed to Wu Daoxuan (flourished 700–760 CE).

Political science is the systematic study of governance through the application of empirical and scientific methods. Unlike political philosophy, which is normative and focuses on what "ought to be," political science prioritizes descriptive analysis, developing theories and conclusions based on observable facts.1

Empirical Research and Behavioralism

A major shift toward empirical rigor occurred in the mid-20th century with the rise of behavioralism. This approach limits the study of politics to phenomena that are independently observable and quantifiable. Behavioralists utilize social science methodologies—primarily from psychology—to establish statistical relationships between independent and dependent variables. Key methods include:2

Election Studies: Researchers use detailed data to analyze voting patterns, party identification, and the influence of social factors like class, religion, and region.2
Public Opinion Surveys: Tools like the Eurobarometer series provide statistical bases for examining trends in social, economic, and cultural issues.2
Quantitative Analysis: Scholars use demographic, economic, and electoral data to study phenomena such as corruption, political stability, and the relationship between national affluence and political systems.2

Limitations and Synthesis

While empirical research has provided significant insights, it is not without challenges. Critics note that statistical correlations do not always establish causation, and researchers often must rely on intuition to interpret complex relationships. Furthermore, because behavioral research focuses on quantifiable data, it has been criticized for sometimes overlooking broader issues of governance and public policy.2

Consequently, the discipline has moved toward a "postbehavioral synthesis," acknowledging that while empirical and quantitative methods are essential for precision, they are most effective when combined with the qualitative insights of traditional approaches.32