ABSTRACT
Experimental criminology 'seeks to promote and improve the use and development of experimental methods in the advancement of criminological theory and evidence-based crime policy'. Randomized experiments are the principal and preferred method for meeting a fundamental goal of scientific research – establishing a causal relationship – and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are the best way to develop, improve and evaluate programmes; prevent programmes from causing unintended harms. Recently, criminological experiments have become more popular in the United States because of successful implementations receiving widespread attention; strong advocacy for the method by renowned criminologists; and the creation of organizations for the purpose of such advocacy, as well as research funding being increasingly linked to the use of such methods. Establishing a truly causal relationship between variables is a fundamental goal of research. There is a consensus among researchers that experimental designs improve internal validity and reduce selection bias.
