title: Strengthening Theoretical Testing in Criminology Using Agent-based Modeling.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two literature reviews are completed. The aim of the first is to identify those articles published inJRCDthat 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: UCL Department of Security and Crime Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Shane D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Department of Criminal Justice, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Groff
keywords: agent-based models; empirical methods; theory testing