Critical Thinking and Intelligence Analysis

by David T. Moore, National Defense National Defense Intelligence College

Analysts and analysts alone create intelligence. Although technological marvels assist analysts by cataloging and presenting data, information and evidence in new ways, they do not do analysis. To be most effective, analysts need an overarching, reflective framework to add structured reasoning to sound, intuitivethinking. "Critical thinking" provides such a framework and goes further, positively influencing the entire intelligence analysis process. Analysts who adopt critical thinking stand to improve their analysis. This paper defines critical thinking in the context of intelligence analysis, explains how it influences the entireintelligence process, explores how it toughens the art of intelligence analysis, suggests how it may be taught, and deduces how analysts can be persuaded to adopt this habit.

Genres: Military Fiction

158 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2007

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

with every book I read about critical thinking comes a reduction in how fun I am at parties

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book, position paper, because of a course I'm taking not because I have any expertise in either critical thinking or intelligence analysis. I was able to draw parallels from it and believe that the concepts and methologies discussed within can be used in many aspects of problem solving. I think it's a greating jumping point from which to dive into further readings on critical thinking.

[Darren Tindall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book on insights into how intelligence analysts go about problems, their bias’ and what needs to be done to create a effective analysis.

What’s somewhat hard to read and understand at times and I would have values more examples of intelligence that demonstrates bias’ or critical thinking - the book focused only on Cuban Missile Crisis and even then it felt a bit too much of skimming the surface.

[VIXEN · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was interesting. It is written by a leader of the NSA and IC. This is his though on what would make our analysts better and more affective. I can largely agree with this thought process. More training in Critical Thinking in the public school system would be nice.

[Y · Rating 3 out of 5]

Examples are relevant but I was hoping for more substance.

[Yehani]

good book

[Riris · Rating 4 out of 5]

that book is very usefull as references for my final project.

[Kayleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential for beginners in any brand of analysis. Any field. History, anthropology, forensics, whatever. You name it and this book will tell you how to defeat your own self defeating personal biases.