TY  - JOUR
KW  - agent-based models;
    theory testing;
    empirical methods;
A1  - Johnson, SD
A1  - Groff, E
JF  - Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency
SP  - 509
N1  - © The Author(s) 2014. 

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License (http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (http://www.uk.sagepub.com/aboutus/openaccess.htm).
VL  - 51
ID  - discovery1430872
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0022427814531490
EP  - 525
N2  - Objectives: The Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency (JRCD) has published important contributions to both criminological theory and associated empirical tests. In this article, we consider some of the challenges associated with traditional approaches to social science research, and discuss a complementary approach that is gaining popularity?agent-based computational modeling?that may offer new opportunities to strengthen theories of crime and develop insights into phenomena of interest. Method: Two literature reviews are completed. The aim of the first is to identify those articles published in JRCD that have been the most influential and to classify the theoretical perspectives taken. The second is intended to identify those studies that have used an agent-based model (ABM) to examine criminological theories and to identify which theories have been explored. Results: Ecological theories of crime pattern formation have received the most attention from researchers using ABMs, but many other criminological theories are amenable to testing using such methods. Conclusion: Traditional methods of theory development and testing suffer from a number of potential issues that a more systematic use of ABMs?not without its own issues?may help to overcome. ABMs should become another method in the criminologists toolbox to aid theory testing and falsification.
IS  - 4
AV  - public
TI  - Strengthening Theoretical Testing in Criminology Using Agent-based Modeling
Y1  - 2014/07//
ER  -