The "given data" paradigm undermines both cultures
It offers a conceptual critique for statisticians, but is incremental as it builds on existing debates without new empirical results.
The paper critiques Breiman's 'two cultures' framework for focusing only on the modeling 'black box', arguing that statistical innovation should also address questions before and after the model.
Breiman organizes "Statistical modeling: The two cultures" around a simple visual. Data, to the far right, are compelled into a "black box" with an arrow and then catapulted left by a second arrow, having been transformed into an output. Breiman then posits two interpretations of this visual as encapsulating a distinction between two cultures in statistics. The divide, he argues is about what happens in the "black box." In this comment, I argue for a broader perspective on statistics and, in doing so, elevate questions from "before" and "after" the box as fruitful areas for statistical innovation and practice.