More about hit rate analysis

Usually, a hit rate analysis focuses on whether there has been an ‘arrest’ (HMICFRS, 2017) or if there have been ‘items found’ as a result of a search (Baumgartner et al., 2018).

While arrest rates might be preferable because an arrest confirms the police assessment of the alleged illegality and significance of the item found, find rates are very commonly used across the literature (Engel & Calnon, 2004; Gelman et al., 2007; Harris, 2006; Quinlan & Derfoufi, 2015; Simoiu et al., 2016; Tanovich, 2004).

For a larger discussion on hit rate analysis see - Understanding Racial Profiling in Australia - (UNSW PhD), p65.