Which statement about the SARA model's analysis step is true?

• A. Any decision associated with an ethical dilemma results in negative consequences.
• B. Community problem solving is consistent with traditional incident-driven policing.
• C. To be effective, responses to a problem must impact all three sides of the problem analysis triangle.
• D. Analysis lies at the heart of the problem-solving process and is probably the most difficult step in the SARA model.

Answer: (D)

The key idea being tested is that the analysis step in the SARA model is the core of problem solving. Analysis is where you turn scattered data from scanning into a precise understanding of the problem—identifying root causes, who is affected, where and when it happens, and how the pieces fit together. This step requires gathering and weighing information from multiple sources, testing hypotheses, and forming a clear problem statement that guides targeted, evidence-based responses. Because it demands integrating diverse data, interpreting complex patterns, and anticipating how proposed interventions will play out, analysis is typically the most challenging part of the process. When analysis is solid, the subsequent actions are better focused, more effective, and easier to assess.

The other statements don’t fit as well. An ethical dilemma does not always yield negative consequences; decisions can have mixed or even positive outcomes. Traditional incident-driven policing emphasizes reacting to events after they occur, whereas SARA’s approach centers on proactive, community-informed problem solving. And while addressing multiple facets of a problem is beneficial, it isn’t an absolute requirement that all three sides of the problem analysis triangle be impacted for an intervention to be effective.