  Dynamics in glassy systems near the phase transition is characterized by the
occurrence of particle jumps. Approaches to describe these jumps are based on
models which include the time and length scales defining the jump dynamics as
parameters to be determined. We instead propose a model-independent method to
detect these jumps. Our method adopts the formalism of the inspection paradox
to examine particle trajectories and reveal the time and length scales defining
a jump without including these scales as free parameters. This method allows
for reinterpreting the results of previous model-dependent approaches, in
particular the decoupling between self-diffusion and structural relaxation
observed in glassy systems. Given its simplicity and generality, our method can
be applied to resolve hopping motion in a broad class of systems, including
experimental ones.
