Creating an association matrix forms the basis for many other techniques covered in this course, including link charting. Association matrix, as the name may suggest, involves plotting out the associations or connections between entities. These entities can be individuals, organizations, loose-knit groups (such as Anonymous, or ISIS) or other communities. The purpose of the association…
Month: July 2017
Indicator Development
Introduction Indicator analysis it the process of identifying and then taking advantage of indicators – elements that an analyst uses to understand when something is happening. For a counter-terror analyst, an indicator might be an increase in encrypted telephone conversations that occurs before terrorist attacks. For a criminal intelligence analyst it might be a change…
Analysis of Competing Hypothesis (ACH)
Analysis of Competing Hypothesis (ACH) is an intelligence analysis technique developed in the 1980s by Richard Heurer (1999) when he was an analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency. The purpose of ACH is to allow an analyst to compare all potential hypotheses against the available evidence in order to identify the most likely option among…
Logic and Inference Development
Inferences are essentially conclusion, drawn from evidence or information. The process of making inferences is an important one in the philosophy of reasoning, and of course in intelligence analysis where your goal is to take disparate information and, after analysis, render conclusions. There are three types of inferences: inductive, deductive, and abductive. Inductive Reasoning Inductive…
Core Competencies of Intelligence Analysis
Core competencies are the basic cognitive building blocks that are required of a good intelligence analyst. Much has been written on the elements that make an individual an effective analyst and throughout this course you will have the opportunity to build these skills as well. Objectivity Objectivity refers to the ability to be fair and…