Putting Criminological Theories to the Test: Field Experimental Methods to Test Cause-and-effect Relationships in Real-life Settings

• In Event: The "Big Picture" of Life Course Research: Systematic Reviews, Population Trends, and Cross-National Comparisons

Abstract

The incremental scientific knowledge about crime and its causes requires criminological theories to provide testable and falsifiable implications. On the other hand, the process of testing these theoretical implications calls for robust methods that provide unambiguous conclusions about the variables that influence behavior. Field experiments combine the benefits of the experimental methodology and the assessment of behavior in the real world, providing high internal and external validity. Nevertheless, field experiments on deviant behavior are still very rare in criminology, while several studies have been conducted in recent years by behavioral economists. In order to provide criminology researchers with an updated review of the field experimental evidence relevant to the study of deviance, we have developed a systematic review of field experiments seeking to study the causes of offending or monetary dishonesty (Gomes et al., 2021). We were able to review a total of 60 field experiments on deviant behavior, which were grouped into four categories: Fraudulent/ dishonest behavior, Stealing, Keeping money, and Shoplifting. Our review provides a description of a wide variety of methods to assess offending and dishonest behavior in real-life settings and clearly demonstrates the ability to test cause-and-effect relationships in the study of deviant behavior.

Authors

• Hugo S. Gomes, Center for Psychology at University of Porto (CPUP), University of Porto

• David Farrington, Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge