The academic discipline that uses the scientific method to study the nature, extent, cause, and control of criminal behavior is criminology. Criminology is an interdisciplinary field that applies scientific methods to understand crime and deviant behavior, examining factors such as why crimes occur, patterns and trends in criminal behavior, and strategies for crime prevention and control

. Criminologists employ valid and reliable experimental designs and data analysis techniques to study criminal behavior systematically. Their work involves developing theories, testing hypotheses, and analyzing data to gain insights into the causes and consequences of crime, as well as the effectiveness of various control measures

. In summary, criminology is the discipline dedicated to the scientific study of crime and criminal behavior, focusing on understanding and addressing the causes and control of crime through empirical research and theory development.