What is the term for the number of occurrences of a feature of interest in forensic analysis?

The term that describes the number of occurrences of a feature of interest in forensic analysis is known as absolute frequency. This refers to the raw count or total number of times a particular feature has been observed within a specific dataset or context. For example, if a forensic analysis indicates that a particular fingerprint pattern appears in a database 25 times, then the absolute frequency of that pattern is 25.

This concept is crucial in forensic analysis, as it helps analysts determine the prevalence of certain features within the population being studied, which can have significant implications for case investigations and conclusions about evidence.

In contrast, relative frequency would refer to the proportion of the feature of interest in relation to the total instances of observations, rather than the actual count of occurrences. Base rates provide information about the general prevalence of a feature within the broader population but do not focus specifically on the actual occurrences collected in a dataset. The likelihood ratio compares the probability of observing the evidence under two competing hypotheses, which involves a more complex statistical analysis rather than simply counting occurrences. Therefore, absolute frequency is the most appropriate term for describing the total count of feature occurrences in a forensic context.