Birks, D. orcid.org/0000-0003-3055-7398, Groff, E.R. and Malleson, N. orcid.org/0000-0002-6977-0615 (2025) Agent-Based Modeling in Criminology. Annual Review of Criminology, 8. pp. 75-95. ISSN 2572-4568
Abstract
An agent-based model is a form of complex systems model that is capable of simulating how the micro-level behavior of individual system entities contributes to macro-level system outcomes. Researchers draw on theory and evidence to identify the key elements of a given system and specify behaviors of agents that simulate the individual entities of that system - be they cells, animals, or people. The model is then used to run simulations in which agents interact with one another and the resulting outcomes are observed. These models enable researchers to explore proposed causal explanations of real-world outcomes, experiment with the impacts that potential interventions might have on system behavior, or generate counterfactual scenarios against which real-world events can be compared. In this review, we discuss the application of agent-based modeling within the field of criminology as well as key challenges and future directions for research.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2025 by the author(s). This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. See credit lines of images or other third-party material in this article for license information. |
Keywords: | agent-based models; individual-based models; simulation; computational criminology; complex systems; research methodology |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Geography (Leeds) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Education, Social Sciences and Law (Leeds) > School of Law (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 17 Mar 2025 09:39 |
Last Modified: | 17 Mar 2025 17:35 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Annual Reviews |
Identification Number: | 10.1146/annurev-criminol-022222-033905 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:224445 |