Intelligence Analysis (original) (raw)

What Is Intelligence Studies?

In the second decade of the 21st century, the academic study of intelligence continues to develop apace, as evidenced by the growth in publishing, undergraduate and postgraduate academic courses that combine historical and social science approaches, the increase in undergraduate programs in intelligence analysis aimed at those seeking to enter the profession, and the development of professional training courses internationally. The idea of “intelligence studies” provides the overarching context, but among those working within the field, understandings vary as to precisely what it is or should be. This is an opportune moment to reflect on our approaches to the study of intelligence, the assumptions underpinning them, and how the study has evolved since the 1950s. In doing this, we identify three key questions that need to be considered: What is “intelligence studies”?; should it be considered to be, or should it aspire to become, a “discipline”?; and who is it for? This article offers answers to each of these questions and identifies the main areas of work within contemporary intelligence studies in terms of four projects: the research/historical, the definitional/methodological, the organizational/functional, and the governance/policy.

Intelligence Analysis: Turning a Craft into a Profession

Proceedings of the 2005 International Conference on Intelligence Analysis, 2005

Even though intelligence analysis—which possesses characteristics of both crafts and professions--is frequently referred to as a profession, in actuality it has been practiced more like a craft. As a result, it lacks many of the benefits of formal professions, such as structured personnel practices, and possesses no quality control mechanism to ensure the reliability of the individual analyst’s output. Turning intelligence analysis from a craft into a profession would provide the opportunity for improvement in both individual and organizational performance due to the adoption of formal personnel practices and standardization of best practices across all intelligence agencies.

Principles of intelligence analysis for agencies, business and (geo)politics

2022

Intelligence, in addition to scientific knowledge, involves the inclusion of human, socio-economic and political factors in the equation, and obtaining it through analysis, information and predictions by combining all the factors involved. Intelligence analysis consists of applying individual and collective cognitive methods to weigh data and test hypotheses in a given socio-cultural context. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.13691.59688

Psychology of Intelligence Analysis

vii Author’s Preface This volume pulls together and republishes, with some editing, updating, and additions, articles written during 1978–86 for internal use within the CIA Directorate of Intelligence. Four of the articles also appeared in the Intelligence Community journal Studies in Intelligence during that time frame. The information is relatively timeless and still relevant to the never-ending quest for better analysis. The articles are based on reviewing cognitive psychology literature concerning how people process information to make judgments on in - complete and ambiguous information. I selected the experiments and findings that seem most relevant to intelligence analysis and most in need of communication to intelligence analysts. I then translated the techni - cal reports into language that intelligence analysts can understand and interpreted the relevance of these findings to the problems intelligence analysts face. The result is a compromise that may not be wholly satisfactory to either research psychologists or intelligence analysts. Cognitive psychol - ogists and decision analysts may complain of oversimplification, while the non-psychologist reader may have to absorb some new terminology. Unfortunately, mental processes are so complex that discussion of them does require some specialized vocabulary. Intelligence analysts who have read and thought seriously about the nature of their craft should have no difficulty with this book. Those who are plowing virgin ground may require serious effort. I wish to thank all those who contributed comments and suggestions on the draft of this book: Jack Davis (who also wrote the Introduction); four former Directorate of Intelligence (DI) analysts whose names cannot be cited here; my current colleague, Prof. Theodore Sarbin; and my edi - tor at the CIA’s Center for the Study of Intelligence, Hank Appelbaum. All made many substantive and editorial suggestions that helped greatly to make this a better book.

Improving Intelligence Analysis: Bridging the Gap between Scholarship and Practice

2011

Improving intelligence analysis requires bridging the gap between scholarship and practice. Compared to the more established academic disciplines of political science and international relations, intelligence studies scholarship is generally quite relevant to practice. Yet a substantial gap exists nonetheless. Even though there are many intelligence analysts, very few of them are aware of the various writings on intelligence analysis which could help them improve their own processes and products. If the gap between scholarship and practice were to be bridged, practitioners would be able to access and exploit the literature in order to acquire new ways to think about, frame, conceptualize, and improve the analytic process and the resulting product. This volume contributes to the broader discussion regarding mechanisms and methods for improving intelligence analysis processes and products. It synthesizes these articles into a coherent whole, linking them together through common themes, and emphasizes the broader vision of intelligence analysis in the introduction and conclusion chapters. Chapters: 1. Bridging the Gap Between Scholarship and Practice 2. Describing Intelligence Analysis 3. Improving the Science of Intelligence Analysis 4. Improving the Art of Intelligence Analysis 5. Improving Intelligence Analysis with Analytic Teams 6. Improving Intelligence Analysis Through Training and Education 7. Using Analogies to Improve Intelligence Analysis 8. Improving Intelligence Analysis as a Profession 9. The Importance of Scholarship to Practice