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    Diagnosing Distortion in Source Reporting - Powerpoint

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    Pat Noble
    This document discusses diagnosing distortion in human intelligence (HUMINT) source reporting by examining lessons from parallel fields like anthropology and journalism. It proposes separating the reliability of intelligence sources from the reliability of source reporting, which can be distorted at four stages: when intelligence is provided by the source, gathered by the collector, analyzed by analysts, and edited by editors. Distortion can occur unintentionally due to errors or intentionally through deception. The document recommends training, feedback, cross-examination of collectors, and more writing on operational theory and human surveillance to increase reliability awareness and reduce distortion in HUMINT reporting.

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    Diagnosing Distortion in Source Reporting - Powerpoint

    Uploaded by

    Pat Noble
    436 views16 pages
    This document discusses diagnosing distortion in human intelligence (HUMINT) source reporting by examining lessons from parallel fields like anthropology and journalism. It proposes separating the reliability of intelligence sources from the reliability of source reporting, which can be distorted at four stages: when intelligence is provided by the source, gathered by the collector, analyzed by analysts, and edited by editors. Distortion can occur unintentionally due to errors or intentionally through deception. The document recommends training, feedback, cross-examination of collectors, and more writing on operational theory and human surveillance to increase reliability awareness and reduce distortion in HUMINT reporting.

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    A Powerpoint presentation to accompany my thesis on source reporting reliability in intelligence.

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    This document discusses diagnosing distortion in human intelligence (HUMINT) source reporting by examining lessons from parallel fields like anthropology and journalism. It proposes separating the reliability of intelligence sources from the reliability of source reporting, which can be distorted at four stages: when intelligence is provided by the source, gathered by the collector, analyzed by analysts, and edited by editors. Distortion can occur unintentionally due to errors or intentionally through deception. The document recommends training, feedback, cross-examination of collectors, and more writing on operational theory and human surveillance to increase reliability awareness and reduce distortion in HUMINT reporting.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    436 views16 pages

    Diagnosing Distortion in Source Reporting - Powerpoint

    Uploaded by

    Pat Noble
    This document discusses diagnosing distortion in human intelligence (HUMINT) source reporting by examining lessons from parallel fields like anthropology and journalism. It proposes separating the reliability of intelligence sources from the reliability of source reporting, which can be distorted at four stages: when intelligence is provided by the source, gathered by the collector, analyzed by analysts, and edited by editors. Distortion can occur unintentionally due to errors or intentionally through deception. The document recommends training, feedback, cross-examination of collectors, and more writing on operational theory and human surveillance to increase reliability awareness and reduce distortion in HUMINT reporting.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    of 16

    Diagnosing Distortion In Source

    Reporting
    Lessons For HUMINT Reliability
    From Other Fields
    Concept Development
    • Initial concept: Reliability scale
    – Devise scale for analytic products
    • Obstacle: Unrefined concept
    – Whose reliability is measured?
    – What are the factors of reliability?
    • Final concept: Separate and focus
    – Separate asset vetting
    – Focus on internal USIC process
    Purpose and Rationale
    • Examine distortion in source Source Collector
    reporting caused by the
    HUMINT process
    • Take an initial step towards
    development of a workable
    reliability scale
    Editor Analyst
    • Inject the HUMINT process
    with applicable experiences
    from parallel fields
    Literature Review
    • No writings address the thesis topic directly
    • Most focus on spies and espionage
    • Specialists tend to overindulge in
    USIC/policymaker relations
    • Noteworthy writings include:
    – Kessler’s Spy vs Spy (1988)
    – Goffman’s Presentation of Self in Everyday Life (1959)
    Methodology
    • Define key players in HUMINT
    Process
    • Examine how they can introduce
    distortion to source reporting
    • Bolster analytic rigor by injecting
    writings from fields with similar
    processes
    HUMINT Process – What?
    Distortion (unintentional or purposeful) can take
    place at four stages in the HUMINT process:
    – 1. When intelligence is provided
    – 2. When it is gathered and reported
    – 3. When reporting is analyzed
    and threats are assessed
    – 4. When the finished product is
    edited and approved
    Similar Fields • Anthropology
    – Field researcher, report writer,
    review board
    • Journalism
    – Reporter, writer, editor
    • Criminal Justice
    – Detective, lawyer, judge
    HUMINT Process – Who?
    These four stages involve the
    following players:
    – 1. Source provides intelligence
    – 2. Collector gathers intelligence
    and returns to file a report
    – 3. Analyst studies the reporting
    and reaches conclusions
    – 4. Editor checks and approves
    the finished product
    The Source
    • Deception (purposeful)
    – Hostile direction
    – Financial strain
    – Revenge
    – Thrill seeking
    • Error (unintentional)
    – Poor recollection
    – Limited perspective
    – Biased viewpoint
    The Collector (nexus with source)

    • Stress of circumstances
    • Inadequate preparation
    or background
    • Poor interview techniques
    The Collector (writing the report)
    • Poor recollection of
    meeting details
    • Limited grasp of
    collection’s significance
    • Misrepresentation of
    source statements
    • Lack of a feedback
    mechanism
    The Analyst
    • Aggregation and
    generalization
    • Poor preparation
    • Stale intelligence
    • Lack of access to source
    • Limited perspective
    The Editor

    • Final bulwark
    • Overtaxed
    • Relies on quality drafts
    • Doesn’t rock the boat
    • May stretch data to suit
    Conclusions
    • Source reliability and source
    reporting reliability ought to
    be rated separately
    • The research methodologies of
    anthropologists, journalists,
    and legal experts offer the
    benefit of experience to
    practitioners of the HUMINT
    process
    Recommendations
    • Need for reliability awareness training
    for intelligence consumers
    • Feedback and follow-up between
    collector and source on reporting
    • Use mock court to cross-examine
    collector on source reliability
    • USIC should write more on human
    surveillance and reconnaissance
    • USIC should write more on operational
    theory
    Questions?

    Prepared by Pat Noble


    Thesis defense at Mercyhurst College
    20 March 2009

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