Author David Moore makes a powerful argument that analysts who
possess critical thinking skills are better able to cope with the complexities
of a post-Cold War world than those who are not. Although
technology can assist analysts by cataloguing and presenting data, information
and evidence in new ways, it cannot do the analysis for them.
To be most effective, analysts need an overarching, reflective framework
to add structured reasoning to sound, intuitive thinking. “Critical
thinking” provides such a framework and goes further, positively
influencing the entire intelligence analysis process. This text defines
critical thinking in the context of intelligence analysis, explains how it
influences the entire intelligence 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.
David T. Moore is a career senior intelligence analyst and technical
director at the National Security Agency. Moore is an adjunct faculty
member of the National Cryptologic School and has taught at the Joint
Military Intelligence College, and Trinity University, both in Washington,
DC. Mr. Moore holds a B.A. in sociology from Washington and Lee
University and a Master of Science of Strategic Intelligence from the
National Defense Intelligence College. He is the author of numerous
publications on intelligence. His expertise in intelligence analysis competencies,
methods, and standards was developed over two decades of
intelligence assignments, both in the Washington, DC area and abroad.
This publication builds on six years of advocacy for, and mentoring of,
best practices in intelligence.
|
