Effective Intelligence Analysis: The Human Dimension

ABSTRACT

This paper reports a two stage investigation into the role that personality (NEO Five Factor Inventory – NEO), cognitive (Watson‐Glaser critical thinking appraisal – WGCTA), and interpersonal traits play in the production of accurate and well constructed intelligence advice. The first stage consisted of the creation of a multiple choice intelligence assessment device that assesses the essential elements of good analytic tradecraft. The second stage reports on the psychological study of a sample of trainee analysts to assess the contribution of the intellectual, personality and interpersonal traits of analysts to good analytic practice. The findings indicate that analysts need empathic skills over and above analytic skills in order to carry out the tasks identified as integral to good intelligence analysis.