The use of experimental vignettes in studying police procedural justice: a systematic review

This review evaluates the methodological features of between-subjects experiments in procedural justice research, focusing on vignette scenarios, confound handling, and analytic approaches. A systematic review of 20 studies reveals that most use convenience sampling, manipulate procedural justice at extreme levels, and often overlook potential confounds. Procedural justice manipulations combining elements show consistent attitudinal effects, while tests of individual components yield mixed results. Future studies should disaggregate procedural justice elements, incorporate treatment gradients, address confounds, and assess information equivalence using placebo tests.

Journal Article